Can work gossips lead to firing of employees? CNN reported a group of employees were fired from their local town council. What is the legal implication of gossiping at work?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/23/fired.gossip.ap/index.html

If it's not true, it's defamation of character. Slander or libel, depending on if it was murmured around the water cooler or sent by email.

If it is true, it might be insubordination. You can get axed from most gigs by bad mouthing the person who can fire you. If you fail to use common sense, you can get spanked hard.

You have to be very careful when reading "news" on CNN as they are one of the least accurate sources. My previuos jpb I worked for a computer reseller and I had a printout of the article where CNN reported that HP was no longer going to produce scanners and I kept it with all the brochures of new scanners they had introduced since then. Thats just one example.

Yes and no. It depends on what you say and how you say it. Given the very strong protections given to freedom of speech an employer has to be reasonably carefull about how he proceeds. Telling your employer the truth is not insubordination. Dismissal would be tantamount to dismissing for honest conduct.

As for the slander, libel or defamation part: There are two defences in law.
1) You are telling the truth.
2) Your comment is what is generally termed "fair comment." As in you have only said what any reasonable person would say.

So if you call your boss an Ass...., you have the defence that he is and if he wants to sue over it, he has to prove that he is not an Ass.....

Small town City government. That says it all.

Dave

But if you call your boss an ass, don't be surprised if he calls you unemployed.

Yeah, my mouth used to open before I fully thought things through. I might have done that once.