Legal Question in Employment Law in Georgia

Employment termination due to innocent mistake

We were eating lunch at work joking around about funerals in different cultures. There were 3 white girls , 1 trinidad, & me from India. The black lady asked if any one had been to a black funeral. Then she enacted a black funeral and made every one laugh so hard that we were all crying. After lunch when I got to my desk I googled black funeral & without reading it in full detai emailed it to all the girls in our office. There are only 2 black girls 1 who initiated the black funeral enactment and the other girl who was not at lunch with us. She came to my desk laughing. She said '' Girl that was so hilarious and it was so true about black folks''. Mind you I still had not read the whole joke clearly. Next day I was terminated. From what I understand the girl who had started the enactment and made us laugh was not happy about the joke & brought it up to a manager. I have a clean flawess background, I am well liked by all, I go out of my way to help all. I evev made a sandwich for this black lady a few days back who I consider to be a friend. WHy woud I do something to offend anyone. I was just trying to continue the lunch humor. Isnt there any thing like ''intend of distribution''? My fault I got caught up in the moment.


Asked on 11/17/07, 1:33 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: Employment termination due to innocent mistake

Unless you have a contract stating otherwise, or you have more rights in an employee handbook, employment in Georgia is at-will and employees can be terminated for any or no reason (with a few exceptions involving discrimination). Whether or not it was "innocent," sending or making this kind of joke, especially if company e-mail is used, often leads to action by the employer. Unfortunately, you do not provide facts to show the employer did not have the right to terminate you, though you can always make an appointment with an employment lawyer to review the situation.

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Answered on 11/17/07, 6:36 am


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