Jonathan Reeser used to manage day-to-day operations, including supervising employees, at Patients Choice Laboratories in Indianapolis.
Emboldened by a sense of either self-righteousness or impunity, or perhaps a generous helping of both, he tweeted the message at left to Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) using his real name. Read Rep. Swalwell’s reply below.
It didn’t take long. And when word got back to his employer, he was fired (see story here).
They said, “Not only do these comments violate our social media policy, but they violate our company’s moral and ethical standards and will not be tolerated.”
This is a free country. People can say whatever they like, especially to public officials, and usually won’t go to jail for it. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. Employers can pick and choose who to employ. If you don’t like their social media policies, or their moral and ethical standards, you are free to seek employment elsewhere.
This must have been gnawing at Reeser for a while. No doubt he felt better after getting it off his chest. But it’s tempting to ask him, “But was it worth it?”