However these are the times we live in and we must adapt to them. Many companies (mine included) are hiring "social media" directors who will assemble a team to monitor and respond to anything that pops up on the Internet that might be detrimental to the company's reputation.
Accordingly, many personnel matters now need to be handled in a manner that would minimize the chances of a disgruntled employee going to the media or internet to "tell their story." In fact, employees who are separating from us are now asked to sign an agreement not to say anything detrimental about the company in the media - before receiving their full separation package. Can't be too careful these days.
That’s sounds great in theory but in practice it’s another matter. Some people need to be fired. Some of those people might be in a demo that gets sympathy. Are they supposed to keep this guy because 72 year old vets feeding the homeless are a sympathy spawning demo? Severance agreements are largely un-enforcable, you’ve got no leverage on them anymore, they can opt not to sign. More so in low rent land like this, there probably was no separation package.
Sometimes a company just has to take their lumps and trust the American public has the attention span of a gnat and this will all blow over in a couple weeks.