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My personal life is just that. Personal. As long as I do the job I'm hired do and do it well within my capabilities anything I do off the clock is not relevant to my job. It personal.

Just like my workplace has no use for my personal life, personal beliefs or personal practices, my employers have no use for my personal life, etc. Yes, my job is important to me, and I enjoy the people and place where I work, but when I leave the building that's it. It's my time to do what I want, where I want with whom ever I want. Isn't that why you work, to afford a personal life? I don't take any of it to work with me and they shouldn't have any reason to be looking into my life outside the four walls they pay me in.

The man that got fired a few years ago because he was drinking a beer that his company made was ridiculous. His preference should have no bearing on his job. Just because you work for Chevy, doesn't mean you can't own a Dodge, and if it did matter your really touching on your freedom of choice issues. Employers trying to fire people because they smoke/drink is also crossing the line. Will they fire you next because you go to a bar, the wrong church, or dragrace on the weekends? We have the right to do what we want away from our employers without fear that it will come back to haunt us (I am, of course, not talking about illegal things).

I know we hear things about teachers having racy pictures on myspace or which ever social network they use, and yes I question that person's judgment given their trade, but they shouldn't lose their teachers license over it. Our children are being raised in a technical age that allows for easy access to more personal information on anyone who uses the Internet, and we as adults need to police and explain the implications that creates. When the child goes to school it's our responsibility to make sure they know their the student and they must have respect for the teacher in the education system. They need to learn now that personal lives have no bearing on professional lives. When they grow up and have a job it's their performance, attitude and knowledge that should be important to the employer, not what they do at home. It's an issue that will only become more prevalent as this generation grows up. This generation already set the tone for the social networks, and they will continue to do so.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Elliott.
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