Why You'll Definitely Be Fired This Year

There once was a time when the line between what was considered to be personal was clearly drawn between what was perceived to be professional. But with the advent of technology, that has all changed.

We now live in a world where every photo you take, keystroke you make, and words you speak can be recorded, shared, and re-shared — in an instant — with a click of a button. And given Apple sold 74.8 million iPhones in Q4 2014, there is a fair probability it will be over an Apple device. To put that in perspective, that was roughly 34,000 iPhones sold per hour, each equipped with HD video and voice memo recording. And in just a few days, Apple will begin taking pre-orders for their latest product, the ? Watch — each equipped with the ability to record audio. Not to mention Samsung's 73 million Android phones sold during the same quarter with the same capabilities.

Earlier this year I predicted...

• More conversations that might be perceived as "private" being recorded with the launch of more wearable devices in the marketplace.
• More video footage being captured by both the police and those they are hired to protect as America begins to embrace more monitoring to protect the innocent while prosecuting the guilty.
• More companies being hacked and company information, such as emails, being released that might share our own unconscious biases on race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities / abilities, religion, etc.
• More authentic behavior that may contradict our perceived impressions of our leaders, our colleagues, our friends and our families.

And so far, 2015 is proving not to disappoint. We have seen...

• Univision Host Rodner Figueroa fired over his comments made on-air comparing Michelle Obama to 'Planet of the Apes.'
• 'X Factor New Zealand' Judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon fired for 'bullying' a contestant.
• University of Oklahoma students expelled over a leaked racist video.
• Ferguson, MO police fired, while others "resign," over racist emails.

But terminations based on inappropriate behavior is not just happening to students, the police and those who appear on television. It is also happening to everyone else and the effects can be life changing — career ending.

Former CFO Now Unemployed, On Food Stamps After Viral Video
— WATCH Adam Smith's Story —

Many make the mistake of believing freedom of speech means freedom of consequences and that, I believe, is one of the biggest mistakes one can make in one's career. Companies are always looking to employ the best and the brightest because they want to excel in business, capture greater market share and increase profits for their shareholders. But if your speech or actions put any of those business objectives in jeopardy, you are now a business liability.

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Under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, employees have the right to engage in concerted activities for their mutual aid and protection, including complaining to one another about the terms and conditions of their employment. And yes, it is true that an employer may not take adverse action against employees for exercising their Section 7 rights without violating Section 8(a)(1) of the Act which forbids an employer “to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7.”

But employees can take it too far and lose the protection of Section 7 when their conduct is particularly egregious or of such a character as to render the employees unfit for further service. We saw this last year when a waitress was terminated for complaining about bad tippers on Facebook and another employee who was terminated over Twitter based on her previously posted tweet right before she was to start her new job.

One thing to keep in mind is never assume privacy controls keep your posted photos, tweets and comments private. While every app or website will do their best to protect your privacy, it does not mean the person you tweeted or the people you're connected to will. Everything you do and/or post has the ability to be videoed / screenshot and sent to anyone and everyone — in an instant.

And don't forget the former CFO, Adam Smith, in the above ABC News clip who is still unemployed and on food stamps after one of his posted videos went viral. Adam's freedom of speech led him to say to a drive-thru attendant, "Chick-Fil-A is a hateful corporation...I don't know how you live with yourself and work here. I don't understand it. This is a horrible corporation with horrible values. You deserve better."

EVERY TIME I LOOK AT HIRING SOMEBODY, I go and gather their digital footprint from every source I can get. Most companies now, mine included, employ people that specialize in just watching what’s happening on all [of] the platforms." Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary

So you might ask, what do I have to say about Trevor Noah who recently experienced backlash over his past Twitter comments but was able to keep his job as the new Host of the Daily Show? I am reminded that Trevor works for Comedy Central, a network known for such controversial shows as South Park, The Roast of Justin Bieber and Tosh.0. And while I do not agree with his comments, that did not keep Comedian Patton Oswalt from launching an epic 53-Tweet dissection of a Twitter joke. Only to have it followed by Comedy Central releasing the following statement,

Like many comedians, Trevor Noah pushes boundaries; he is provocative and spares no one, himself included. To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair. Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central.

So if you are not a comedian working for Comedy Central, what two things can you do to secure your continued employment this year?

1) Think Before You Act or Post — Are you using offensive language or posting obscene, embarrassing, derogatory or otherwise inappropriate material? Are you posting or repeating false and disparaging information? Are you exercising ‘Good Taste’ at all times? If your company executives were asked about your comments on the nightly news, would those views be seen as enhancing the corporation's brand or a business liability?

— AND —

2) Search For Yourself and Clean Up — Thoroughly search through a variety of search engines; not just your name, but your email(s), your nickname(s), your YouTube comments and videos, variations on your name, newsgroups, user groups, domain registrations — EVERYTHING. Delete any material you have posted that might be seen as questionable. No, there is no magic erase button in the U.S.*; however, by removing the content now, you can possibly have some effect on the ability of others to repost and share. Once it's goes viral, it's too late.

Everyone is responsible for his/her own actions both offline and online.

Are you doing all you can to ensure you're not the next "fired" story of 2015?

* In 2014, California passed the "erase-bill" law requiring websites to remove content and provide notice of the removal when requested by anyone under the age of 18. This includes social media sites and only applies to residents of California.

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April is Celebrate Diversity Month. This is the month we celebrate differences and similarities, hoping that people will gain a deeper understanding of each other. Share a Quotable with your network to help spread the word.