As a teacher can I be fired for alledged conduct at a basketball game off school grounds and on the weekend?
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As a teacher can I be fired for alledged conduct at a basketball game off school grounds and on the weekend?
My employer said they would fire me based ob allegations that I cheered for an opposing team and booed our team. She said that my conduct at functions where students are present are grounds for dismissal.
Asked on December 22, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you have an employment contract or are covered by a union or collective bargaining agreement (as public school teachers generally are), you can only be fired in accordance with the contract. That means they can only fire you for grounds allowed by the contract, and also have to follow whatever disciplinary or termination procedures are set out in the contract.
However, if you do not have a personal or union contract protecting you (as many private school or religious school teachers do not), you may be fired at any time, for almost any reason--including cheering for the other team and booing your own.
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