Eagles worker fired over Facebook rant
This is why you kids have to be careful what you post on Facebook.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dan Leone, a 32-year old lifelong Eagles fan who worked as the west gate chief at the Linc on game days for the past six years, was fired because of a rant he posted on his Facebook page after the Eagles allowed Brian Dawkins to become a free agent (he later signed with the Broncos).
Here is columnist John Gonzalez's take on the matter.
Leone posted the following on his page: "Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!"
Within a week, he was fired. Let me also mention that Leone suffered from a neurological disorder called transverse myelitis that caused muscle fatigue and limited range of motion in his limbs, which forced him to work from a wheelchair when the pain of standing became too unbearable.
Said Leone: "I tried putting in my case to Rachel [Vitagliano, the team's guest services manager]. I told her I worked there for six years. I did whatever they asked. I only missed one Eagles game the entire time I worked there, and that was because I'm a Mummer. I told her it was my dream to work for the Eagles and that I'd never do anything like that again."
He continued: "I apologized for it. I apologized 20 million times. I never bad-mouthed the organization before. I made one mistake and they terminate me? And they couldn't even bring me into the office to talk to me? They had to do it over the phone? At least look me in the eye. To get done dirty like this, I can't believe it. I'm devastated."
The Eagles had a brief response through a representative: "The only information we can share is that Dan was a seasonal game-day employee and not a full-time member of the Eagles staff."
Personally, I'm really surprised by this harsh ruling. Wouldn't you think the Eagles would want an employee who deals with hardcore fans on a weekly basis to show the same fervor about the team as they do? I guess towing the company line is more important.
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Comments (19)
Totally deserved. Posting something like that is idiotic. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Perhaps his use of the word "retarded" had something to do with it. That is one of those demeaning things that often gets overlooked, even though it is just as wrong and hurtful as any other derogatory slang.
I am applying to medical schools for next year and what happened to Dan Leone is the reason I deleted my Facebook account just months after registering. Facebook sells personal information and photos to bidders, even if the person has a private profile or unregistered years ago. I feel bad for superfan Leone who made comments that he probably thought were private when in fact they were made public.
I think it's bulls**t. I think I remember something called freedom of speech, which I think he was exercising. The company I work for would never fire someone over something like this, and trust me there are many employees there that have very strong opinions of the company and management, my company seems to believe that allowing these people to vent makes things less stressful. I think there should be a law barring employers from using public profiles in hiring/firing decisions. It's not like a drivers or criminal record, which are official, your myspace or facebook are not official records. People even hack other profiles all the time. What if someone hacked mine and bad mouthed my company, then I get fired? Bull!!
Well, without seeing the written notice given to Leone, and the written reasons why he was terminated, we can only surmise as to what the reason was.
I would be very surprised if the Eagles mentioned anything about his Facebook rant.
If that's the case, i.e. no mention of the rant...or even a reference to it, this is a non-story.
If there is a reference to it, then the Eagles have left themselves open to wrongful termination litigation.
(Which are generally difficult to prove anyway, unless it falls under some kind of discrimination category).
In any case...people should not be held accountable for things like this. If you put in a solid 8 hours at the office....do (say) whatever you want in your free-time (Plumber's code anyone?)
His comments about the trade were probably the same thing a few thousand season ticket holders said...Do the Eagles cancel their season tickets?
Employees are just as important an asset to an organization, and should be treated with the same respect as customers.
I defy ANYONE to say that they have never said a bad thing about an employer.
Let's lighten up people.
Just my opinion....from two time zones away.
Besides, as employers, we need to remember that there is only so much fallout the government safety nets can absorb.
;)
I feel for the guy, and the team should have given him a second chance. Typical fan getting worked up, not the worse trait in an employee. But yeah, if you rip your employer in public, and it was a public facebook page, you are playing with fire. The team is well within their rights to dismiss an employee for cause in this case. Freedom of speech has nothing to do with it. He has not been censored, just fired.
It is the act of an organization that is feeling a lot of pressure right now. That's what it looks like anyway. Makes the Eagles look really uptight as an organization. McNabb wants to see progress if he's going to extend - Dawkins leaving doesn't look good.
This is no good. Unless there is a policy stating that you're going to be fired if you say anything bad about the team, this is just stupid. What the guy said was stupid, but that's just how sports fans often talk about the teams they love. They should know that in PHILADELPHIA of all places.
Freedom of Speech? Thats a government issue, not private employers.
Facebook is public, deal with it.
The Eagles are perfectly within their rights to fire a disloyal employee and to determine what disloyal means for themselves.
If I wanted to say that the Dolans are retarded, my job is safe. Think Bob Glauber can say the same?
Don't the yankees and mets use a heavy hand in who they let do the broadcasts for their games?
If you work at an Ice Cream store, don't think you can go just outside or somewhere else and say the ice cream sucks, or that your manager sucks, and think you won't be fired if certain people find out.
Besides, this guy will be fine. Some bar or restaurant will hire him to "host" Eagles games since he's a "celebrity" now. Maybe he'll get to host other Philly teams games too. Or maybe he'll be on the radio for Philly sports.
Now, Glauber, how about some NFL analysis?
Also, the pics you have been sharing on your blog lately have left much to be desired.
The derogatory connotation of the way this guy used "retarded" IS the reason he was let go -- not simply bashing the team management (who deserve it).
Fair point, but then why didn't the team say as much?
Mad Dog.
Same rule applies when dating women that applies here.
The more you say, the more that can get you into trouble.
wow who cares. the eagles suck anyway.
i hat e the eagles to bro
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The Eagles really know how to treat their workers. They suck on the field and they suck when it comes to people that work for them. When are they going to implode that worthless stadium? The eagles R Retarded that they traded there best defensive guy. shows that the Eagles will not ever when a Super Bowl. LOSERS!!!
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