In which of the following scenarios can an employer summarily dismiss an employee in a nonunion environment for his or her activities outside of the workplace?
A) The employee discloses confidential information on a personal blog.
B) The employee has a fight with a neighbour.
C) The employee talks to fellow workers about the possible benefits of a union in the workplace.
D) The employee attends a union conference.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Disclosing confidential information on a personal blog could harm the company's reputation and compromise its trade secrets. As a result, an employer may summarily dismiss an employee for this activity outside of the workplace.

Answer: B
 Unless the fight with the neighbour has direct implications on the employee's job or puts the employer at risk of liability, it is unlikely to be cause for summary dismissal.

Answer: C
 It is illegal for an employer to dismiss an employee for talking about unionization or the benefits of joining a union in the workplace. This is considered a protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act.

Answer: D
 Similar to choice C, attending a union conference or engaging in other union-related activities outside of the workplace is protected by the National Labor Relations Act. An employer cannot summarily dismiss an employee for engaging in these activities.

In Which of the Following Scenarios Can an Employer Summarily