Firings

So NPR is going through it's, seemingly, monthly fund raising and all you hear is the reaction to the recent firing of its conservative reporter, Juan Williams.  Cries are now being heard to remove the federal funding of  NPR.  Prior to the Williams firing, the high profile firing was that of an administrator for the department of agriculture, Shirley Sherrod.  Several other high profile firings have occurred in recent months, but unfortunately they do not come quickly to mind.  However, they all seem to have one common denominator, namely, the manner in which the firings were made and the public reaction to the firing.  They were high profile cases.  Without discussing the merits of each case, my question(s) for the day or if you want to call it my rant for the day is simple.  What has happened to "civility" in our society?  What has happened to "due process"?  What has happened to respect for the dignity of our fellow man?  What has happened to the simple rules of management that require all facts of a particular case be gathered and analyzed before a decision is reached and that you always treat your fellow employees with respect?

Even if the facts of the case merit dismissal.  Slovenly behavior does not beget slovenly behavior. For an executive of a National Organization such as NPR to state on national television that she regrets the manner in which Williams was fired even though she still believes his actions warranted dismissal is unconscionable.  I would assume a national organization such as NPR to have a public relations department.  Maybe they should fire all members of that department!  One can only conclude that they were not consulted.

To expect respect, you must show respect ~ and that includes those persons with whom you disagree on particular political issues ~ even if those views might some how warrant dismissal.  In the Shirley Sherrod case it proved to be true that her statements were taken out of context and that her dismissal was not warranted.  Even if the facts supported dismissal, the manner of firing was done with complete disregard of the personal dignity of Ms. Sherrod.  I don't blame her refusal to accept reemployment with the Department of Agriculture.  I wouldn't want to work with colleagues that demonstrated such behavior either.

As to Williams, I am not sure that his actions warranted dismissal.  I recall an airplane trip to Sofia, Bulgaria from Frankfort, Germany where I was extremely nervous as I viewed the apparel of the passengers around me.  Perhaps a different situation from that of the one that Williams was describing, but none-the-less the description of a "feeling" one has in a particular situation.  I certainly do not agreed with all that Williams believes and oft times states.  Perhaps, other actions of his added to the decision to dismiss him.  However, common dignity would, in my view, require something more than a short telephone conversation stating dismissal.  I don't know all the facts.  But, at this point it would appear that no one else does either.  What a public relations disaster this is!

My rant for the day.  No one will read this.  But I got it off my chest.