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Video of Tribune CEO's profanity stirs controversy
Tribune Co. executives and Orlando Sentinel managers responded Monday to controversy that erupted after video surfaced on the Internet of new Tribune Chairman and CEO Sam Zell cursing at a Sentinel photographer ...
Full Story: Orlando Sentinel
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I was employed by the Orlando Sentinel for 34 years and in my opinion it was a sad day for the employees when Sam Zell took over the Tribune Company.
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He owns the company, if the photographer wants to give him a hard time, then I say fire her. It's sad that you can't even tell anyone off anymore without it being "news." Start printing things that are worthwhile.
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At least he didn't drop his drawers and command her to kiss his posterior or be fired...gotta look at the bright side, kiddo...
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Money or power buys you the right to be sadistic to people. Lets all treat people as if they are worth nothing. Our society is so money hungry they see nothing but money or power!!!!!!!!
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For the sake of politeness Zell should apologize. But on the flip side everything else in the exchange needed to be said. Journalist live in a naive cocoon. When they accepted their paycheck they became a part of the newspaper BUSINESS.
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If you notice, he did step away from the mic and deftly dropped in the two-word obscenity in a lower volume. If you ask me, I wish he had the vertebra to say it at regular volume instead of an "under-the-breath" attempt. He seems to enjoy projecting this John Wayne "Tough Guy" persona, so he should have unleashed a robust verbal assault.
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There are two sides to the story, having witnessed it, she approached the podium in a very angry manner almost confrontational and it has been said she said it first. That's neither here nor there. I have lost a huge amount of retirement due to the stupid stuffed shirt brainless executives, and along comes rich Uncle Sam and there is glimmer of hope that I may not have to bag groceries at Publix at the age of 65.
Quite pleased so far with the shake up |
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Is it illegal to use profanity? Is it illegal to say "f you" to an employee? I think not...at least not yet.
The guy owns the company and like it or not, as long he doesn't do anything illegal to employees, he can do as he wishes. If the employees don't like the management style, they can do as private employees have done for years...stay or leave. Time for the photographer to grow up. |
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“Semper Fi...” 
Joined: Dec 3, 2007 Comments: 1726 Glenwood, FL -the last of many ISP: AOL |
...Perhaps the Sentinel slaves should have become confrontational with The Trib Brass before Sam Zell bailed them out of the Wall Street slop bucket...
...Even so, he could have been a mite more clever in this exchange with a lowly shlepper. Though there'd be no argument if he turned that salty tongue on a few of the Sentinel's snooty Upper Crusters... |
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No argument there but he is the boss and he does have the right to say what he wants or verbally abuse who he wants (legally). We may not agree but there is also the philosophy that a 'lower' employee needs to utilize common sense in the corporate world. Calling the owner of a multimillion dollar company on the carpet is not the brightest tactic for career advancement. |
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“Semper Fi...”
Joined: Dec 3, 2007 Comments: 1726 Glenwood, FL -the last of many ISP: AOL |
...HaHaHaHa--Ain't dat da troot...
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To curse at an employee may not technically be illegal, but I'm sure it could fall under the category of verbal harassment. However, the laws are written in such a way that if an employer is not denigrating an employee by attacking their race, creed, color, religion, age or gender there isn't much an employee can do if they are cursed at, called stupid or dumb, etc. Seems to me that harassment laws need to be extended- there is really no excuse for cursing at employees or insulting them and all the more in front of others. Just as an employee is free to leave a job, an employer is free to terminate someone, and if an employer is unhappy to the point that they curse and insult an employee, perhaps it is up to the employer to terminate the relationship. No doubt an employee would be fired in most cases for cursing at or insulting their boss. As far as management style, an employer who curses, insults or belittles employees knows very little amount effective management and certainly has no class OR style. |
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Meant to say very little "about" effective management...
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I wasn't writing of what should be, I was writing of what is. One instance of the employer saying "f---you" to an employee does not constitute harassment. It may not be effective management, may not have style or class, but is legal. My point was that the idealistic reporter(who already knew of this guy's style) should have known better than to try to put this guy on the spot and argue with him in a large employee forum. Those of us who have worked under such conditions know that there is no "free discussion" when a boss says that "anything goes". She needs to mature and focus her independent philosophy to other realms, rather toward an eccentric billionaire. It isn't fair but life never is. I don't deal in ideals in life but the reality and the reality is that this young lady was very right....in the wrong setting. He is the owner of a private business and can say what he wants to say to his employees (within legal boundaries). We may not agree, but it is the reality. |
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The guy called her and apologized. So what's the big deal? We all say things at times.
The reporter needs to toughen up a bit and stop being a victim. It does get old. |
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I know exactly what you were writing about, and I also know that life isn't fair, so there was no need to inform me of that. MY point was that perhaps it SHOULD be against the law for an employer to verbally harass or verbally abuse an employee. You say one instance doesn't constitute harassment- well then, just how many instances would? How many instances does it take to constitute sexual harassment? I think just one instance is enough, hmmm? So therefore, how many times would it take to be cursed at or otherwise verbally abused to be considered harassment? And a boss saying "anything goes"? Hardly. As I already stated, I have little doubt that an employer saying to their boss "f--- you" would, in the majority of situations, result in immediate termination. And speaking of knowing better, an employer should certainly know better than to curse at employees. As far as saying the reporter should have known better, another "reality" is that the only person responsible for how one reacts in a situation is the person doing the reacting. And lastly, just because something is legal that does not make it right- that's just another "reality" for you. |
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Maybe he should have apologized to her in front of the same group of people which he cursed at her in front of. And I wonder how many bosses would shrug off being cursed at by an employee and being told "we all say things at times". |
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Amen! ;-) |
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One comment does not constitute harassement and this in no way was any type of sexual harassment, so I don't know why you would bring that into context. ha·rass (h-rs, hrs) tr.v. ha·rassed, ha·rass·ing, ha·rass·es 1. To irritate or torment persistently. I never said that what he said was 'right', I said what he said was legal. Your philosophy of what people should do has nothing to do with what they do in real life and this newbie reporter should understand that we don't live a world where an employee can contest a bosses views in public and not have any consequence. It is a private company, what he did was legal. He did make a good faith effort to apologize and hasn't canned the staff who released the story, which he has every right to do.....he is the employer. Your points are what should happen philosophically and doesn't mean a thing in this case. I deal in reality, you deal in "woulda, coulda, shoulda". Goodbye. I'm off this discussion....subject has been beaten to death. |
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