Reply #19: Yes, they have a right [View All]

[Bragi]

I don't question the fact that NPR apparently had a legal right to fire him. Given their ambiguous code of conduct, they can probably fire any employee just about whenever they want.

My point is not to bemoan or condemn their decision, I'm just saying I don't think they were wise to make it.

They had options, and could have, for example, apologized and moved on, it happens all the time. You don't have to fire people every time there's a mistake made, especially if it is a less than totally off-the-charts egregious offense.

Anyway, NPR chose to fire Williams, and now they're reaping a pack of trouble for it, and it looks like he's doing splendidly.

Frankly, this whole thing isn't something that I'm going to lose much sleep over one way or the other, but I do believe they would have been better off not firing him. Perhaps time will tell more clearly than we can see right now.

(And I am amazed at the bombastic vitriol being hurled at me for simply stating my opinion on this decision by NPR.)