Employee Shares A Meme And Gets Fired Over It, So He Shares The Text Exchange With The Boss
Do you have your bosses on social media? If so, you might want to reconsider after reading Cody Hidalgo’s unfortunate poop-meme story. It started on a Sunday. Cody was off work, minding his own business when he decided to post a mildly amusing and seemingly innocent meme onto his Facebook page.
Image credits: cody.hidalgo.1
“Boss makes a dollar, I make a dime. That’s why I poop on company time,” goes the caption, under a pic of Elmo sitting playfully on the potty.
Hardly controversial stuff, is it?
Image credits: cody.hidalgo.1
Now, we don’t know the full context or background to this story – perhaps Cody has been a truly awful employee? Maybe Andy, the boss, has put up with Cody’s slacking and ill-discipline for months now, and was itching for an excuse to pull the trigger?
Or it could be that Andy is just a big meanie who has no sense of humor and is on a massive power trip.
Either way, firing somebody for posting a meme in their free time and on their personal social media seems a little…harsh. Don’t you think?
Image credits: cody.hidalgo.1
Cody couldn’t believe what had just happened. He had just managed to get himself fired on his day off with a meme about pooping.
Image credits: cody.hidalgo.1
He continued to plead his innocence but his arguments fell on deaf ears. It does seem like this was the final straw in a sorry saga of workplace disappointment – Cody was clearly not a valued team member.
Image credits: cody.hidalgo.1
However, Andy’s point about the post ‘getting around’ would come back to haunt him as the story soon went viral, and people were taking Cody’s side.
Image credits: BlakeTapper
Memes are a powerful form of communication these days, and you don’t want to get on a meme maker’s bad side! People quickly found the company in question and began to stand up for Cody in the way they know best – leaving hilariously withering ‘reviews.’
Image credits: KyleOfFlorida
Image credits: Roman-Stone-Works
Image credits: Roman-Stone-Works
Image credits: Roman-Stone-Works
What do you think? Was Cody horribly mistreated here, or do you think there might be more to this story? Michigan is a state that has “at-will” employment, which means that both the employer and employee are free to terminate the employment at any given time, and for any legitimate purpose, unless bound by a legal contract. What are the conditions in your state/country? Let us know in the comments below!
Bored Panda has contacted both Mr. Hidalgo and Roman Stone Works for comment.
Even if Cody was a terrible employee, saying his child being dead is a good thing is extremely wrong and hurtful.
I think Cody can file a lawsuit for that can he?
Costly! If he doesn't find a pro bono lawyer who will do it for the glory!
Yeah if thats not a real life example if hate speach then i dont know what is
No.
Sure, one he'd have no chance of winning.
That’s when his boss showed his true colors. Scumbag.
Wow. Just wow. His employer's behaviour is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. This guy needs to report him and have a tribunal. The comment about his dead kid is absolutely grotesque. He's the one who needs to be fired.
HAHAHAHAHA This is the U.S. I think. No tribunals here. Michigan is an at-will employer. They can fire you just because they feel like it.
Does make me glad to work somewhere with better rights for employees.
Yes, at will states can terminate employment for almost anything (not discrimination though). However, ANY employer in ANY state who makes comments such as this would be held accountable. He may never get his job back since he was terminated over a meme, BUT he can get the company/owner punished/fined for such a despicable insult that had no bearing on his performance, and was made out of anger.
well isn’t there a 3 month trial you can go where the employer can fire you for any reason if you aren’t a good fit, and the employee can quit anytime without a reason? it’s like a trial period to see if you like the job place. i’m not sure if it’s required or for every job, it might only be optional to some. but we have that here i’m canada? otherwise you can’t do that
They literally don't even need a reason.
I was shocked to read something like that? The boss had no compunction throwing out the employee's dead child. God help us all.....
As an American, what do you mean by a tribunal? Is that like job court?
@DamnBecky - An employment tribunal occurs when an employee behaves inappropriately and unprofessionally and they have a meeting with their boss and HR to determine whether or not fire them.
A tribunal in the UK can be either way. You can take a company to court for wrongful dismissal. You can't be sacked willy nilly. The boss would also be done under discriminating behaviour and hauled over the coals for the dead child comment. God knows why you don't have employee rights that's terrible!
I didn't see that part about the mans kid and for a second I was like "Bish he did what?!" Completely agree with ya, Employer and Employee should switch positions in this case. 😒
Also why I don't friend my boss.
My boss is really nice and I basically know him as a friend at a big company in NZ, we buy each other coffee and we know each other as friends, but I can see that some people have not very nice bosses
New Zealanders are awesome!
Exactly. Maybe have a real FB and a " professional" one?
Even if Cody was a terrible employee, saying his child being dead is a good thing is extremely wrong and hurtful.
I think Cody can file a lawsuit for that can he?
Costly! If he doesn't find a pro bono lawyer who will do it for the glory!
Yeah if thats not a real life example if hate speach then i dont know what is
No.
Sure, one he'd have no chance of winning.
That’s when his boss showed his true colors. Scumbag.
Wow. Just wow. His employer's behaviour is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. This guy needs to report him and have a tribunal. The comment about his dead kid is absolutely grotesque. He's the one who needs to be fired.
HAHAHAHAHA This is the U.S. I think. No tribunals here. Michigan is an at-will employer. They can fire you just because they feel like it.
Does make me glad to work somewhere with better rights for employees.
Yes, at will states can terminate employment for almost anything (not discrimination though). However, ANY employer in ANY state who makes comments such as this would be held accountable. He may never get his job back since he was terminated over a meme, BUT he can get the company/owner punished/fined for such a despicable insult that had no bearing on his performance, and was made out of anger.
well isn’t there a 3 month trial you can go where the employer can fire you for any reason if you aren’t a good fit, and the employee can quit anytime without a reason? it’s like a trial period to see if you like the job place. i’m not sure if it’s required or for every job, it might only be optional to some. but we have that here i’m canada? otherwise you can’t do that
They literally don't even need a reason.
I was shocked to read something like that? The boss had no compunction throwing out the employee's dead child. God help us all.....
As an American, what do you mean by a tribunal? Is that like job court?
@DamnBecky - An employment tribunal occurs when an employee behaves inappropriately and unprofessionally and they have a meeting with their boss and HR to determine whether or not fire them.
A tribunal in the UK can be either way. You can take a company to court for wrongful dismissal. You can't be sacked willy nilly. The boss would also be done under discriminating behaviour and hauled over the coals for the dead child comment. God knows why you don't have employee rights that's terrible!
I didn't see that part about the mans kid and for a second I was like "Bish he did what?!" Completely agree with ya, Employer and Employee should switch positions in this case. 😒
Also why I don't friend my boss.
My boss is really nice and I basically know him as a friend at a big company in NZ, we buy each other coffee and we know each other as friends, but I can see that some people have not very nice bosses
New Zealanders are awesome!
Exactly. Maybe have a real FB and a " professional" one?