Wrongfully terminated? What do you think?

I am a nurse. I transferred to a smaller branch of the large hospital I was working at for a year. While orienting to my new surroundings, my mentor and I had a lot of downtime on the night shift. He wanted to watch movies over the internet, but was wary of using the office computers to do so. He suggested I bring in my laptop, which I did. To make a long story short, there were nude pictures of me on my laptop, which were seen by him and another employee. I did not deliberately show them, the other employee found them. When I went back to work 4 days later, the gossip about this incident had gotten out of control and I was fired for unprofessional conduct. Unemployment compensation was also denied.

Many employees bring their laptops to work and many look at or have nude photos.

Was this fair? Should I continue to fight it, or just accept it and let it go? I do have another job now.

You were not wrongfully terminated. You were justly terminated. In business, we are not responsible merely for our intentions (you never intended for them to see your naked pix), you are responsible for the outcome (everyone seeing your naked pix) because you brought your personal laptop to work.

Even without the naked pix, you could have been fired for watching movies.

Let it go and stop talking about it so the gossip doesn't follow you.

You were in violation of a known policy. You were caught and now must pay the price for being caught. It was not "wrongfully terminated" it was "terminated for cause".

you were not wrongfully terminated. should have been more careful. its amazing how many people now a days can be so naive and ditzy. These other people who are bringing these nude pics in through their laptops will either learn from your mistake or get caught themselves... but one of you had to slip up first.

I won't get into it but I know someone who had a similar enough situation happen to where I can say just let it go. It will wind up causing you more embarresment in the long run, unless you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that other people at your place of work have brought in laptops and have nude photos on them. If you can do this then fight for it if you think the compensation is worth it. If it's not then let it go cut your losses and put a password on the program with the nude pics. :)

Since you have another job, just let it go. Not worth it. But, leave your laptop at home.

Were you allowed to bring in your laptop? At our job you aren't allowed to bring in any personal items including cell phones, music players, laptops, etc. This may have been the rule they caught you on. Since you got a job with another company I would let it go. What was the other person doing looking into your personal files, anyway? And if you did give permission for someone to search your laptop then it is improper conduct on your part to have allowed a coworker to see your personal pictures while on the job site or on the clock.

You brought a lap top to your place of employment and were aware there were nude pictures of you on that lap top. You were not wrongfully terminated. I wonder about the character and integrity of the other workers there if they are also bringing lap tops with nude pictures of themselves. This sounds like something upper management needs to deal with. Since you have another job, just let it go. It might require more time and energy than it's worth.

It might be better to work somewhere else.

I suggest that you talk to an attorney to see what your rights and entitlements are. Most will give you a free initial meeting.

I would have to investigate the evidence further to make an informed decision.... :-) j/k
I agree with you, I wouldn't have fired someone for that, especially a nurse since there is such a growing shortage...
I would ask if the reason you were fired is b/c of you using the laptop or the pictures... If it is b/c of the laptop and they are not enforcing it with other people clearly there is discrimination going on...if its because of the nude pictures...that is a violation of your privacy, even if you let someone use your computer to watch a movie or surf the web, you did not give them permission to violate your privacy and go into files you did not give them expressed permission to go into.... I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding another job anyway...Good Luck

You brought a laptop with nude pictures of yourself to a work environment, and you want to know if your dismissal was FAIR ? Please. You violated hospital policy by even bringing that laptop onto the premises.

Methinks it's time for you and those other employees to grow up a bit. A professional nurse should know better.

Wow, everybody seems to be being kind of rough on you! Unfairly so, who hasn't made a human mistake and trusted where one should not trust!!! Give her a break, people! I agree mostly with Darkshnider and Carly and their points of view. In any work situation, there seem to be the rules that are followed and the rules that are ignored. The trick seems to be that those with seniority are punished for ignoring said rules far less than the newbies. Nonetheless you have a new job and have learned your lesson the hard way; rehashing the whole experience for the courts sake may be more trouble than it's worth. Sadly, there are many things in life that are unfair. You have to decide if it is worth it to you to fight what may be a losing battle. I wish you the best of luck!!!