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Many believe that TikTok rules the modern world – especially for the younger generation, some of whom often use TikTok instead of Google even to search for information. TikTok can take a person to the top – Khaby Lame is a perfect example of this – or it can seriously harm.
In fact, a service that was originally conceived solely for fun and entertainment is better not to be used for any work-related things. Especially if there are representatives of the older generation at your work who are not particularly well-versed in trends. And it can even cost you your job as a result.
As, for example, happened with the teacher Nicole Johnson, who, literally because of just one video, lost her job after eight years of employment at her school. The video recorded by Nicole went viral, gaining about 2M views. However, let’s take it right from the very beginning…
More info: TikTok
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The Original Poster is a mother of three who has worked at the same school for more than eight years
Image credits: SOMANEDU
So, the Original Poster is a mother of three who has worked at the same school for more than eight years. In her own words, the school’s administration has given her “special attention” since she discovered that the person who was there when her niece got a TBI has moved to town and is working with children.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
The OP once made a video which the school administration found offensive to a colleague
The OP was put on administrative leave for those videos, as the higher-ups called it harassment of a colleague, but after three weeks, she returned to work. After that, the teacher began to receive regular emails about her attendance. She did not attach any importance to this – as it turned out later, in vain.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
One day Nicole recorded another video which she published with the #fyp hashtag
It all started one day when the OP recorded a video of her sipping coffee through a straw, with the caption that she always says she can’t get to work early because of her three kids, but always makes time for Starbucks.
@nicoleybridget3 Replying to @pnwrene #greenscreenvideo♬ original sound – Nicole Johnson
Nicole posted the video under the hashtag #fyp, because she had found a similar one earlier on her For You Page. If you haven’t heard anything about TikTok, this is the page you land on when you open TikTok, and actually the very place where content goes viral. And just the hashtag #fyp is a completely familiar three letters for anyone who has opened TikTok at least a couple of times.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
The higher-ups accused the teacher of being heavily disrespectful toward her co-workers
So, the video was public for about two days, and then Nicole hid it. But that was enough for the school administration. The OP was invited to a meeting that she was told was about her inappropriate behavior and lack of respect for her colleagues.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
The “evidence” was a printed sheet with a photograph of a phone screen with that video playing
The teacher was shown a printed sheet on which a smartphone screen was photographed with her video (which proves once again that she was framed by a person who could not even take a screenshot). Nicole was charged with deliberately being late for work (although she was never late – she simply did not come before hours, as the administration sometimes demanded) and insulting colleagues.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
It turned out that the superiors decided that the hashtag stood for curse words addressed to other teachers
It turns out, as explained to the teacher in the HR department, the hashtag #fyp was regarded as “f**k you people”. The OP’s attempts to explain the meaning of the world-famous hashtag were completely unsuccessful, and Nicole was fired after eight years at her school.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Nicole thinks that she knows who exactly framed her – one of her elder colleagues
In her video, the teacher showed that the students were extremely upset by her termination, and wrote touching letters to her – but nothing could touch the school superiors. Nicole also noted that, apparently, one of her elder colleagues reported on her – and she even knows who it was.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
It can only be hoped that the TikTok trends will help spread the word to the higher school authorities and Nicole will be reinstated. At least, there have already been such cases, because TikTok, as we have already said, knows how to make people famous literally out of the blue.
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
Image credits: @nicoleybridget3
We, as always, welcome your comments about this story, and if you have also experienced something similar, be sure to tell us how it happened. In the end, the internet is arranged so that you can always find, if not help, then at least some sympathy.
What do you think ?
Just me 3 years ago
A little digging into this helped it make more sense. First, she was already in trouble over posting tik toks about a coworker she alleges was present at her nieces injury….but that’s not the worst part. What’s worse is she then was reprimanded for being repeatedly late to work, which she blamed on being a single parent as well as ADHD, and for which she sought medical accommodations (which is a serious thing that people with disabilities need). So not only did she ask her employer for grace in getting to work late, she utilized accommodations for people with disabilities as well…THEN publicly states she’s basically scamming both her employer and disability law…for all the world to see. Seems like this termination was more than fair and was her own fault. Can only hope she grows up enough to realize that and change her ways.
YouKiddingMe 3 years ago
Glad my kids are grown if this is the type of teachers we have now days. She speaks like a spoiled 14yo.
Sweetpotato314 3 years ago
If I had to work with her, I'd turn her in too. Although I wouldn't pretend to be her friend. She sounds absolutely exhausting and entitled. I hate when people use their children as an excuse to pass of work on others, as if we don't have lives and responsibilities, too.
Zophra 3 years ago
There is far more to this. You don't get fired this easily and quickly if this is a USA public school for something like this. A warning, yes, but fired? no.
Little king trash mouth 3 years ago
Depends if she's in a union or not. At my school in NJ - no, there would be a whole formal procedure first
Load More Replies...
Jennifer .S 3 years ago
I'm a teacher in training, and they make an absolutely huge deal about your online presence as a teacher, and how it has to be basically spotless. It could potentially be found by pupils, parents, employers or investors so you need to be professional and a good role model everywhere. It really stresses me out honestly. Anyway, I'm not saying I fully agree with what happened but I am saying I'm not surprised. I'm always amazed when I see teachers with any tik tok accounts, let alone a personal one to rant about your own life. It's bound to be picked up on and criticised eventually.
Sasha 3 years ago
I dont agree that teachers should be held to this standard. Theyre still adults and work and private life should be seperate. However in this case she was posting about work, herself removing that boundary, so its on her own head.
Load More Replies...
Bored Retsuko 3 years ago
I don't understand the point of this video anyway unless it's supposed to be an ad for Starbucks or something... What's this trend of showing off your entitlement, "oh look I'm so smart, I tricked my colleagues into thinking it's for the kids that I come late, but actually I'm getting myself a coffee, lol, let's post a vid about it". Childish and unprofessional imho. Also very nice (for those who didn't make it through the wole story), she took the chance to bash her older colleagues for not knowing how to make a screenshot with the phone, ffs they're 60+.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
I’m 61 and know how to screenshot with my phone. I do not, however, tell on myself by posting how I feel about work on social media, because I realize that anyone—-including my boss—-can find it and potentially see it too, and I need my paycheck. I’m a kind of private person and don’t keep much of an online presence anyway, so for me it’s not a problem. An additional reason I maintain a minimal online presence (I considered it at one point in time) is because I HATE that companies stalk employees online to catch them saying or doing anything, on their OWN time and not the company’s time, that some a**l retentive HR rep judges to be bad. Because, barring anything violent and illegal, when someone’s off your clock it’s none of your business what they do. It also doesn’t mean I begrudge anyone the choice to post what they want online. I just hope they take into consideration the possibility their employer is stalking them online and all the potential fallout that could result—-for themselves and/or others—-before putting it out there, and if it could be a problem, to reconsider posting it, or taking it down ASAP if they already have. Be smart, be safe, keep your job.
Load More Replies...
Rachel Ainsworth 3 years ago
So basically she was fired for ... stopping to get coffee before being on time to work? Don't know where they live but it sounds like they should use the legal system as they had no grounds to fire her.
Andy 3 years ago
It's hard to follow, but my reading of it is she trying to spin it like that to make it dramatic. But she had already been disciplined for posting videos about another member of stuff, and it's referred to a few times that her attendance/time keeping was already an issue. Think it was just the final straw after that that she was posting about always making time to get Starbucks, when she already has timekeeping issues and warned about making posts mentionong her colleagues
Load More Replies... Muhammad Makki 3 years ago
Teaching is not just a JOB. It's not for the people who joined it for money. You have to become a role model for the kids you teaching. If you cannot, just choose some other job. TikTok has more negative aspects than positive ones. There ia no problem if you are just filming yourself but filming other peoples is not a good thing at all even with consent. Faking has become a normal thing on TikTok.
sofacushionfort 3 years ago
Here is a paradox: an era of tech corporations monetizing people’s self-expression and celebration, where their jobs require them to suppress their self-identities. Its no surprise this particular example of that occurred in the subculture of a public school, whose mission is to cultivate that suppression
Shannon Stephens 3 years ago
How many people need to get fired before everyone realizes not to post about your job. Sorry but she got what she deserved. I have a special needs child and I would be horrified if this was his teacher.
Glitterati 3 years ago
Posts moronic video about coffee, gets fired, posts equally moronic video about getting fired.
TheOne 3 years ago
Where is it noted that she asked for disability accommodations? Is this found somewhere else? I did not find that in the story. If she is disabled? She's entitled to ask for disability accommodations. All I can find is that she was let go for several weeks because of the tick tock issue and the TBI issue with her niece.
Just me 3 years ago
Yes this information is in several other articles online. It is not included here.
Load More Replies... TheOne 3 years ago
People keep writing that she was late. But she was never late she just did not come in really early. Does that mean that you are late?
Just me 3 years ago
According to other articles she was repeatedly late and that’s why they were sending her emails aboutnit
Load More Replies...
Elizabeth Anderson 3 years ago
She is difficult to defend, but there is a big problem with teachers being expected to work outside of scheduled hours. We get paid so little already and we are absolutely expected to arrive early and stay late every day.
Just me 3 years ago
A little digging into this helped it make more sense. First, she was already in trouble over posting tik toks about a coworker she alleges was present at her nieces injury….but that’s not the worst part. What’s worse is she then was reprimanded for being repeatedly late to work, which she blamed on being a single parent as well as ADHD, and for which she sought medical accommodations (which is a serious thing that people with disabilities need). So not only did she ask her employer for grace in getting to work late, she utilized accommodations for people with disabilities as well…THEN publicly states she’s basically scamming both her employer and disability law…for all the world to see. Seems like this termination was more than fair and was her own fault. Can only hope she grows up enough to realize that and change her ways.
YouKiddingMe 3 years ago
Glad my kids are grown if this is the type of teachers we have now days. She speaks like a spoiled 14yo.
Sweetpotato314 3 years ago
If I had to work with her, I'd turn her in too. Although I wouldn't pretend to be her friend. She sounds absolutely exhausting and entitled. I hate when people use their children as an excuse to pass of work on others, as if we don't have lives and responsibilities, too.
Zophra 3 years ago
There is far more to this. You don't get fired this easily and quickly if this is a USA public school for something like this. A warning, yes, but fired? no.
Little king trash mouth 3 years ago
Depends if she's in a union or not. At my school in NJ - no, there would be a whole formal procedure first
Load More Replies... Jennifer .S 3 years ago
I'm a teacher in training, and they make an absolutely huge deal about your online presence as a teacher, and how it has to be basically spotless. It could potentially be found by pupils, parents, employers or investors so you need to be professional and a good role model everywhere. It really stresses me out honestly. Anyway, I'm not saying I fully agree with what happened but I am saying I'm not surprised. I'm always amazed when I see teachers with any tik tok accounts, let alone a personal one to rant about your own life. It's bound to be picked up on and criticised eventually.
Sasha 3 years ago
I dont agree that teachers should be held to this standard. Theyre still adults and work and private life should be seperate. However in this case she was posting about work, herself removing that boundary, so its on her own head.
Load More Replies... Bored Retsuko 3 years ago
I don't understand the point of this video anyway unless it's supposed to be an ad for Starbucks or something... What's this trend of showing off your entitlement, "oh look I'm so smart, I tricked my colleagues into thinking it's for the kids that I come late, but actually I'm getting myself a coffee, lol, let's post a vid about it". Childish and unprofessional imho. Also very nice (for those who didn't make it through the wole story), she took the chance to bash her older colleagues for not knowing how to make a screenshot with the phone, ffs they're 60+.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
I’m 61 and know how to screenshot with my phone. I do not, however, tell on myself by posting how I feel about work on social media, because I realize that anyone—-including my boss—-can find it and potentially see it too, and I need my paycheck. I’m a kind of private person and don’t keep much of an online presence anyway, so for me it’s not a problem. An additional reason I maintain a minimal online presence (I considered it at one point in time) is because I HATE that companies stalk employees online to catch them saying or doing anything, on their OWN time and not the company’s time, that some a**l retentive HR rep judges to be bad. Because, barring anything violent and illegal, when someone’s off your clock it’s none of your business what they do. It also doesn’t mean I begrudge anyone the choice to post what they want online. I just hope they take into consideration the possibility their employer is stalking them online and all the potential fallout that could result—-for themselves and/or others—-before putting it out there, and if it could be a problem, to reconsider posting it, or taking it down ASAP if they already have. Be smart, be safe, keep your job.
Load More Replies... Rachel Ainsworth 3 years ago
So basically she was fired for ... stopping to get coffee before being on time to work? Don't know where they live but it sounds like they should use the legal system as they had no grounds to fire her.
Andy 3 years ago
It's hard to follow, but my reading of it is she trying to spin it like that to make it dramatic. But she had already been disciplined for posting videos about another member of stuff, and it's referred to a few times that her attendance/time keeping was already an issue. Think it was just the final straw after that that she was posting about always making time to get Starbucks, when she already has timekeeping issues and warned about making posts mentionong her colleagues
Load More Replies... Muhammad Makki 3 years ago
Teaching is not just a JOB. It's not for the people who joined it for money. You have to become a role model for the kids you teaching. If you cannot, just choose some other job. TikTok has more negative aspects than positive ones. There ia no problem if you are just filming yourself but filming other peoples is not a good thing at all even with consent. Faking has become a normal thing on TikTok.
sofacushionfort 3 years ago
Here is a paradox: an era of tech corporations monetizing people’s self-expression and celebration, where their jobs require them to suppress their self-identities. Its no surprise this particular example of that occurred in the subculture of a public school, whose mission is to cultivate that suppression
Shannon Stephens 3 years ago
How many people need to get fired before everyone realizes not to post about your job. Sorry but she got what she deserved. I have a special needs child and I would be horrified if this was his teacher.
Glitterati 3 years ago
Posts moronic video about coffee, gets fired, posts equally moronic video about getting fired.
TheOne 3 years ago
Where is it noted that she asked for disability accommodations? Is this found somewhere else? I did not find that in the story. If she is disabled? She's entitled to ask for disability accommodations. All I can find is that she was let go for several weeks because of the tick tock issue and the TBI issue with her niece.
Just me 3 years ago
Yes this information is in several other articles online. It is not included here.
Load More Replies... TheOne 3 years ago
People keep writing that she was late. But she was never late she just did not come in really early. Does that mean that you are late?
Just me 3 years ago
According to other articles she was repeatedly late and that’s why they were sending her emails aboutnit
Load More Replies... Elizabeth Anderson 3 years ago
She is difficult to defend, but there is a big problem with teachers being expected to work outside of scheduled hours. We get paid so little already and we are absolutely expected to arrive early and stay late every day.
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