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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    Default Fired for Talking to a Celebrity

    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: California

    So i work as a valet at a hospital, were a contracted company for the hospital. Its a fairly big valet company, we have about 40 valets. 3 days ago kobe bryant and his wife came in, a lot of the valets are basketball fans. When his wife and kids came out alone the next day, a valet said "Hey hows it going, is daddy working?" (as in is Kobe playing basketball tonight, he said this to the children in a very friendly way)

    I guess by saying this to kobe's wife was against policy? being friendly is a crime?

    The valet who did this got fired, haven't seen him since but just talked to him over phone.

    Is there anything that he is able to do about this?
    Thank you and godbless much help would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    what are the rules of your job?

    If this was outside of the rules, they have every right to terminate the employment.

    Since this was in California, they pretty much have the right anyway as well.

    was this person actually fired from the staffing company or simply removed from this location?


    edit to add:


    I guess by saying this to kobe's wife was against policy?
    Is it?

    being friendly is a crime?
    no but it might be seen as being unprofessional, which most certainly would be a problem for the company. When people such as valets, doormen, chauffeurs, wait staff, and a hundred other jobs where the worker might come into contact with the rich and famous, how those workers react to the situation is a representation of the company they work for. If a person cannot be trusted to not go all "fan guy" over some celeb, the company will not want them working for them. Your friend, although was trying to be nice, was unprofessional in his behavior. A person in your position needs to understand that you are soldiers unless the celeb initiates some action. Even then it is in your best interest to remain professional and present a stoic face.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    3

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    we actully do have a rule where we cant ask people personal information. Just realized it probally fell under that..but i believe that law is just towards patients..I don't think she was a patient i believe she was visiting somebody.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
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    24,521

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    In 49 out of 50 states, including CA, you can be fired for any reason not specifically prohibited by law unless you have a legally binding and enforceable contract that says otherwise. Do you have a contract that says you cannot be fired for this?

    If not, you can be.

  5. #5
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    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    Quote Quoting ace799
    View Post
    we actully do have a rule where we cant ask people personal information. Just realized it probally fell under that..but i believe that law is just towards patients..I don't think she was a patient i believe she was visiting somebody.
    It's not a law, it's a rule and the company can make or adjust the rules as they see fit. Even in your realization, you question if the rule is applicable.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    7

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    Having worked in a hospital, there is a policy creep going on in this area. It's now a rule in the organization I used to work that you cannot express any "endearments" to patients.

    In its simplest form that's like when a nurse is having to inject you with a 13 inch painful needle, she cannot say "I am sorry sweetie, but this will hurt." It has to be professional and cold. "Mr. Johnson, this injection is known to cause pain."

    Personally, I prefer the former - to me it makes me feel better.

    The administration of medicine and infliction of pain is personal - i.e. felt by the person. Why must we take away the human pain relief we feel from the people administering our treatment?

    True, this is a valet and not a doctor. But I am sure it is also hospital policy that kindness be shown at every level of the organization - from the janitors to the brain surgeons.

    Provided your friend was a good employee, I would not have fired him. I would have told Bryant that "I'd address her complaint." Then I'd instruct the employee on the correct behavior - if he indeed overstep. But it is common practice for friendly people in the medical and other professions to say to kids "hows Mommy doing?", "How's Daddy doing?" Hell, he may not have even known who Kobe Bryant or his wife was!

    It's amazing to me how in this day and age, we are so quick to deeply hurt other people because they said something because we interpret it in the worst possible way. Does friendliness really need to cost this guy $13,000 - or whatever his yearly wages are? The Bryants don't have to worry about bills, they are multimillionaires. But this guy who's struggling to make ends meet needs to be held to a higher standard than she holds for even Kobe? If I recall correctly, he had affairs on her - yet he didn't lose his job or his wife. This guy makes a friendly comment and loses his meager wages.

    I'd guess by her behavior Kobe wasn't there because he was out with some other lady...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    2,357

    Default Re: Fired for Talking to a Celebrity

    Brad-O, doesn't make the firing any less illegal. Our opinions on whether he should have been fired are irrelevant.

  8. #8
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    May 2010
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    7

    Default Re: Fired for Talking to a Celebrity

    PattyPA, I assume you meant to say "legal".

    Sure the firing is legal - in my non-professional opinion. I was just annoyed at how sensitive (i.e. whiny) people are these days.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Default Re: Fired for Talking to a Celebrity

    I did, yes. Oops. It was too late to fix it.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    California
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    666

    Default Re: Fired, for Talking to a Celebrity

    I would guess that either Kobe or his wife didn't like being approached in this manner. And, looking at if from their perspective, I can understand why. They purchase services of many kinds from many people. Privacy, at times, can be hard to come by. Having someone that you are paying for a service (either directly or indirectly) assume that this gives them the right to start a personal conversation with you would quite rightly warrant a complaint to management. A women and her children having reason to visit a hospital probably have other things on their minds rather than having to cater to the whims of a valet who feels they have a personal relationship because he has seen them before.

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