Protecting Your License and the Perils of Making Controversial Statements
In the aftermath of the death of Charlie Kirk, many professionals have gotten into hot water for something they said or did in response to the news. This trouble often arises when a professional, such as a nurse or accountant, makes a comment to a colleague or posts something on social media, which spreads around the office or virally online. The more controversial it is, the more likely (and more quickly) it gets around and possibly leads to problems.
If you find yourself caught in the middle of a controversy for something you said online or at work, professional discipline could be headed your way. Even something as small as liking or tagging someone else’s social media content could create problems if it relates to a controversial topic. As soon as you realize you need to defend yourself against accusations of unprofessional conduct, contact the LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team using our online contact form or by calling 888-535-3686.
Controversy Leads to Trouble
What makes Charlie Kirk’s death unique is how it’s been politicized. Regardless of your reaction to the news, it could upset many people.
If you do something perceived as left-leaning, those on the right might get upset. If you do something perceived as right-leaning, those on the left might get upset. Do something politically neutral, and both left and right-leaning individuals could get upset. It’s a no-win situation, which is why you have to be very careful with how you respond, especially online.
This controversy can arise even for something you did a long time ago. What wasn’t a big deal back then could become a big deal today because of a shift in politics or societal norms. Or your professional career has advanced to a level where you’re under greater public scrutiny, and so there are more people who could share what they find with the world today, now that everyone is looking at you.
Free Speech Protections for Professionals
You might be wondering about your First Amendment rights and how they should protect what you say. The problem here is that, generally speaking, First Amendment protections only apply to government actions. Workplace or professional discipline may not qualify as a government action.
If you work for the government or are subject to a professional board that’s a government entity, your speech protections could still be limited because of the board or your employer’s interest in maintaining professionalism. But defining what constitutes unprofessional conduct is subjective, so you can never be sure how a licensing board or boss might interpret your behavior.
Professional License Defense From the LLF National Law Firm
There’s a lot on the line if someone files a complaint against you for a comment you made at work or online. It’s easy for something to be misinterpreted, taken out of context, or blown out of proportion on the Internet. As a result, something so small or innocuous could jeopardize your license or job.
Having done nothing wrong isn’t enough to protect yourself. Much of society today makes decisions not based on reality, but on the perception of reality. Responding to controversial news is an easy way to make others have the wrong perception of you, which could place pressure on your employer or professional board to take action to appease the public outcry. This is why it’s critical to get help defending yourself in these situations. Schedule a consultation with the LLF National Law Firm Professional License Defense Team by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online contact form.