I believe it is a freedom of speech issue. In an at-will employment situation the company can fire a contractor for any reason really. But only if a person has done something illegal outside the purview of the company, can the company legally not be liable for the contractors time, expenses, etc. So...if you call your boss a douchebag at the Christmas party you can be canned. But if you call your boss a D'bag in an interview with GQ, they can fire you...but then legally you have the right for recompense as I understand it. That is because of free speech.
All Phil did was state his religious beliefs. I believe A&E did not fire him for this reason. He is on "Hiatus" until A and E figures out how many millions of dollars they want to lose!
So...if you call your boss a douchebag at the Christmas party you can be canned. But if you call your boss a D'bag in an interview with GQ, they can fire you...but then legally you have the right for recompense as I understand it. That is because of free speech.No, it would make no difference where you said it. And whether your boss is able to fire you or not rests solely upon the individual bargaining agreement that was in play. If per the conditions of the contract A&E was allowed to suspend or terminate it without compensation, then A&E owed him nothing regardless of their reason for termination. And in all likelihood, that is what happened here. Robertson isn't complaining that his civil rights are being violated. Instead he is acting as if he already knows it is within A&E's discretion to terminate at any time.