I Was Fired Today, For My Bumperstickers!!!

Well everyone's just about said it already, but I'll throw in my two cents just for fun. It may not be fair, but we are all judged on appearances. If a person dresses in a slovenly fashion, they are considered to have poor hygiene. If they drive a car plastered with bumperstickers (liberal or conservative) they clearly have a big mouth and can't keep their opinions to themselves.

Obviously making a joke about pedophilia ANYWHERE isn't the way to go. LOL but especially not at a daycare. And no one else has commented, but the other one you had "asses of evil" has a curse word on it, which is also inappropriate for a child care setting. The stickers are all in poor taste, but the GOP and asses ones are just too much.

Just because a person doesn't have a lot of money doesn't mean they can't present themselves well. And just because a car is old, doesn't mean it can't be clean and well presented too.

Originally posted by hotbakedtater

It sucks but it is my fault for not getting a marketable skill when I was younger, and instead just stayed home being a housewife, and mom, which no one in the real world considers a skill except daycares!!

Well, actually see, you have never had to worry about what happens to your children when you have to leave them in the hands of strangers at a daycare center. How lucky for you!

That might also be why you don't understand how offensive it could be to see a car with a bumber sticker on it that even mentions pedophiles!


On a side note, just because you were a stay at home Mom, doesn't mean you don't have marketable skills.

Did you or do you balance the checkbook? Take care of the family finances? Budget? Did you cook, and clean, and wait on your family? How about helping your husband with his business, or job?

Being a stay at home Mom is one of the most difficult jobs there is. Make a list of everything you accomplished doing so, and tell people you interview with what you did, and build yourself up. Don't just say you were a stay at home Mom!

Originally posted by hotbakedtater
I love Louisville, but I expected more liberal minded people in a city. I dont even know if I feel safe with my bumper stickers on my car anymore, and just like a girl, now I feel like crying.

So, what you expected from the people of my city was to agree with you 100%, you expected people running a day-care, and the people patronizing it to tolerate a joke about pedophiles, on top of it a homophobic joke? And because people do not find homophobic jokes about pedophiles particularly humorous, you now say you don't feel safe in my city, when not a single person has made a threat to you or your property?

The only person who is exercising any ignorance here is you.

Fact is, you have no case, and you have no position to complain. Your former employer had every right to fire you. They have a right to protect their business from things they feel may harm their business -- such as a homophobic bumper-sticker joking about child molestation. On top of it, they have a duty to ensure that their clients are protected. Your bumper-sticker may call that safety into question.



[edit on 12-5-2008 by SaviorComplex]

Originally posted by hotbakedtater
It sucks but it is my fault for not getting a marketable skill when I was younger, and instead just stayed home being a housewife, and mom, which no one in the real world considers a skill except daycares!!

Excuse me?

Who's fault is it?

My mother runs a daycare in Louisville, my city. You better damn well believe, young lady, she would have fired you on the spot if you showed up with such an ignorant bumper-sticker.

Not to mention your ignorant attitude. Go back and read what you have written in this thread. Nothing it seems is your fault; you bear absolutely no responsibility for any of the events in your life. You are fired from a job, it's because there is a conspiracy against your politics, not because of your resoundedly poor judgement. You do not have any marketable skills, it's because you had no choice. It leaves one to wonder what you would teach the children there: that they bear no responsibility for the choices they make in their life, and it is the responsibility of everyone else in the world to be accepting and tolerant of your irresponsibility.

[edit on 12-5-2008 by SaviorComplex]

Kentucky is an "at will" state and you can be fired easily for no reason. I think the association of the word pedaphile at a children's day care could cause people to react maybe irrationally without thinking about the message you were really trying to put across. It's good that you tried to remedy the situation by saying you were willing to remove the bumper sticker. But that didn't work in this case. I hope your next job goes better. Things don't always turn our like we would want them to.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


Im sure youre a good person hotbakedtater.But, having a Gay old Pedophile sticker on your car, is not going to be good for business
for this daycare.

To be honest with you, i dont see any humor in that sticker! Youre
just asking for trouble in my honest opinion. But i would keep
the Bush sticker wish is funny.

The first thing that I noticed reading your post is that you do have a child which is actually kinda disturbing now that I think about it. (edit .. thanks for the heads up GradyPhilpott )

The second thing I noticed is that you really believe that you did nothing wrong.

I am both a business owner and master of customer service as well as a parent of a 5 year old boy.

Im going to be as blunt as possible with you because I truly believe that you need it.

There are certain realities in the world that EVERYONE comes to realize. In almost every persons life there is a level of conformity. You cannot escape it.

A businesses sole purpose is to make money.

A business that is all about children or the care of children has to carry the burden of responsibility of those children and their welfare. And they need to make money. If you disrupt their ability to make money in any way shape or form you will not be welcome there. In the case of a daycare, their public image is crucial to remain a successful business.

Common sense! Let me emphasize this .... COMMON SENSE would indicate that putting the words "GAY" or "PEDOPHILE" anywhere near the word "DAYCARE" would raise question as to the quality of daycare they are providing.

I personally wouldnt take my child there. He is at an age where if he even heard people talking about it would ask 100,000 questions.

Let me just explain exactly what I would have said to you had you done this at my business:
"Any employee that I hire is strictly on a trial period to determine if they will work out or not. Once I have determined their value I will decide if they stay or not. I will not be keeping you not just because of the bumper sticker but because of your inability to use common sense and good judgment by merely showing up at a daycare with that bumper sticker. If you lack that much common sense and good judgment then you cannot be put in a position of care for any children."

This is the harsh reality of life. The sooner that you understand this the better off you will be and maybe someday take responsibility for all your actions.

There is no conspiracy.

there is no injustice here.

Have a nice day.

[edit on 12-5-2008 by Tybrus]

Bottom line....check your politics at the door when entering a work environment. Especially a PUBLIC place of business where customers will likely be offended. Loss of customers = loss of revenue for the owner. Political and religious doctrine, even just a bumper sticker, should be discussed and displayed at the proper time in the proper environment.

If you cant see where the business owner is coming from then put yourself in their shoes. What matters to them most? Their livelyhood or your politics? Exactly.

I agree 100% that it was a poor display of judgement on your part to put it mildly. Ever heard of the McMartin pre-school trials? A drop of common sense will tell you that the word pedophile, used in any context, will be heavily frowned upon and not looked upon lightly by anyone in the child care business. Some things are just not appropriate in a work environment, you are not being paid to offer political commentary you are being paid to perform a service. When your thoughtless actions are a poor reflection on your employer and it causes them to lose business then you are terminated and rightfully so.

And KY is a right to work state, and your case is about as shaky as one could possibly be. I would say that your odds of winning a settlement from this firing would be almost as likely as the daycare owner counter suing you for damaging their business and credibility due to you neglectful actions. I would chalk it up to lesson learned and move on if I were in your shoes, but hey, ultimately that is up to you.

Originally posted by Enthralled Fan
Day care centers and jokes about pedophilia don't mix.

That's right, you save those jokes for church...

nuthin?

Okay, how about this.

I've got one of these on my car...



You don't see me applying at a mastectomy wing in a hospital...

strike two...

anyway, I'll have to agree with the probationary period posts. Most jobs have at least a 30 day probationary period, and some have up to a year. You can be fired without reason during this period. For the first year at my job the only people whom knew what my bumper sticker meant were the two O&A listeners who worked there.

You can't screw around when it comes to making money.

And as a side note, it probably has nothing to do with your political affiliation. I'm sure it has everything to do with the word "pedophile."

reply to post by Tybrus


I do believe that the OP said that she had a child and was a stay at home mom for some time.

I would think that any parent would feel uncomfortable with those bumper stickers, but apparently that was not the case.

You're right. It is a matter of exhibiting good judgement.

While I agree that what most of us regard as common sense would probably preclude many of us (myself included) from putting such a bumper sticker on my car if I worked at a daycare, and that most employers would be within their legal rights (whether I would do it myself or not) by terminating her employment, I must say that I have a bit more compassion and sympathy for the OP than the apparent attempts at "harsh lessons in reality" that some people herein have offered.

Everyone can make a mistake. Everyone can learn from those mistakes. She said it herself: it didn't occur to her that people would be alarmed or offended, and she has learned a lesson as a result. Sure, it may seem like common sense to us, but everyone is different and has different life experiences with which to inform the decisions and choices they make in life. Who am I - or any of us in my personal opinion - to judge this woman? So we know something that she apparently didn’t in this instance. Do we know everything? Are we better people than her? She made a mistake and is paying for it. Why must she also acquiesce to our particular view of reality in addition to that? Why must lessons such as "this is the way the world is" end with "so deal with it," rather than, "sadly" or "as painful as this lesson has no doubt been for you?"

I don't judge anyone for a harsher tact if it's the one they believe is right. You, like her, have life experiences that inform your feelings, outlooks, and choices. It just saddens me is all. Agreement is not necessary to understanding, nor to compassion in my opinion.

Edited for spelling and clarity.

[edit on 5/12/2008 by AceWombat04]

I hate to sound like a jerk to you, but you said you were fired for your political beliefs. I mean, that's kind of true, but kind of not. Do you believe 100% that everyone in the GOP is gay, old AND a pedophile? You might have been fired for your sense of humor, but not for your beliefs. Also, it is kind of silly to have a bumper sticker like that and want to work for a day care. I understand where you are coming from, but if you need the job bad enough, tell them you will remove the joke because you understand it's in bad taste. Pedophiles are no laughing matter, neither is racism or the holocaust. I do think America is TOTALLY too sensitive now and too politically correct. But then again, what are your priorities? Making fun of the GOP or making a living? To be completely honest, I don't think those bumper stickers really help the cause against those politicians. I think exposing the truth in positive ways, through intelligent means is the way to go. Jokes like that really just make us all look silly. I'm sorry you lost your job though. I should have mentioned this first. I just wanted to share my 2 cents. I didn't look at your profile, but maybe you are young? Not sure, but that sounds right. I'm not young anymore, or all that old yet, but I remember wanting to speak for the truth and fight the evil. I never had a bumper sticker like this, but it would have been something I might have done at that time. Now, I just try and find ways to talk to the herd about opening their minds just a little and look at all the facts and all the discrepancies with stuff the gov is telling us. I think the point I might be trying to make, is if you want to fight the good fight, try and find the most efficient way. Do you think that bumper sticker does this in an efficient way? Does it make regular people question the story the gov gives us for 9/11? Does it make people question why there are so many pharmaceuticals around right now and why flouride in the water can actually be bad for us? Does this bumper sticker make them question ANYTHING in all reality? I would say no. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I've shown at least a few decent examples. What stinks about all of this is this... the bumper sticker is ineffective AND you got fired!! So, hopefully this can be a learning experience and you can figure a better way to express yourself that really makes people think and not offends them. Do you know what I mean? I reread this post and it sounds like I'm bitching at you and I'm sorry for that. If you heard me speak, you would hear a much happier and lively tone and POSITIVE tone. Internet is what it is. Lastly, again, I'm sorry you got fired. Being low on money is not fun, funny and makes for a stressful life.


JPT

[edit on 13-5-2008 by justpassingthrough]

I need to learn how to spell@@!!

[edit on 13-5-2008 by justpassingthrough]

Umm.. Yeah. Having a bumper sticker that says Gay Old Pedaphiles on it isn't exactly the image a daycare would want to promote. I can see why you got fired.. I would have asked you to remove the sticker find alternate parking for your vehicle, but to each their own..

When I feel strongly against something, I NEVER use the written words of it or speak it if I can. Reason?

I just think that for the lame brains in the world they see something like that written or worse they dont really see it, and it becomes a subliminal.

I have to say, the bumper stickers on your car look a little bit trashy, dated, negative.

I agree. It does sound like you are in an "at will" state, so any legal action will probably not help. However, if you are not in an "at will" state, and you can get an attorney, I would definitely do it. You offered to do whatever it took to keep the job, and that should count for something. While I can understand the daycare's position, your bumperstickers do not have any bearing on your work. I hope you'll let us know what your attorney says.

This reminds me when I was in my early 20's I was fired on my first day job because I had dreadlocks, I had no contact with customers, only with the employer and 3 workers...When I went home I was kinda depressed and angry.
The next morning I said " Play by their rules or don't play their game", so I cut my dreadlocks...now that I'm getting balder I keep my thoughts "inside" my head instead of "outside", welcome to the real world.
Get over it, nothing to win but troubles...

Good luck, Marmelade

Dude, you pissed off the redneck republicans with those stickers. You could have been shot! Your lucky you only lost your job.

I'm really sorry that you lost your job, i know how devastating that can be especially when you have a family to support. If i was you i would't waste my time trying to sue, you may end up being the one that pays. I seriously doubt that you will win the case. And although you may have a fairness committee in your area, gay rights. I seriously doubt that they deal with the rights of gay pedophiles, and this is what the caycare center is going to say that you were trying to promote or endorse.

I don't think it was just about the GOP sticker. I also saw a sticker that said i hope the embryo that you save grows up to be gay and proud, and another one can't remember something about asses. All three of these stickers are innappropriate for a worker at a daycare center, especially one working with the toddlers.

Right or wrong some people could infer from the first two stickers that i mentioned that you are gay and support gay pedophlia. And no one wants to drop thier child off at a daycare where an employee has what they may consider innappropriate langauge (asses) for thier small children to see on thier car. I understand that the car was in the employee parking lot, but still it could be seen by anyone, and the fact that it was in the employees lot casts a reflection on the daycare center.

Also you must take into account that these children would be spending what about 8 hours a day with you, thats a LOT of time to influence a young mind. Some parents may have seen those stickers and immediately though that you would try to influence thier children towards certain beliefs. They may have said i don't want my child around a person with these beliefs, which is thier right.Something so small, that you never gave a second thought to could have lost that daycare a lot of business.

Honestly if i went to drop my grandkids off at daycare and saw that an employee had a bumper sticker that said gay old pedophiles on thier car, i wouldn't bring the kids in, i'd take them beck home, call my son and tell him to find a new daycare. You just can't take chances with your children.

Do i think that you have a right to freedom of speech, and the right to display any bumper stickers on your car that you choose to, YES. Do i think that those particular bumper stickers were appropriate on the vehicle of an employee of a daycare center's vehicle parked in the employee lot, NO.

reply to post by hotbakedtater


those bumper stickers are completely harmless . . . young children can't read/understand them and the same goes for old people.

I'm sorry you lost your job. I think it's kind of ridiculous.

Im with JP up there ^^ the stickers are harmless, even if the daycare clients saw them i dont think they could say much, afterall if they cared that much about what their children were exposed to theyd home school em right?

shame on those of you here that would let a silly little stickers sway your judgement... not what youd hope to see here at ATS...

I say good on you for having the balls to rock those stickers, if i lived in america, id have them and the maximum size billboard you can strap to the roof!!

You Go Girl!!

P.S, I think you will soon find an even better job!



[edit on 13/5/2008 by Zeus187]