A trad-wife is a burgeoning trend of women embracing traditional gender roles and lifestyles of the 1950s. Gaddis is an adherent of the lifestyle and promoter of its beliefs on social media.
In a viral TikTok video, Gaddis (white) used the n-word to describe her friends' husbands. Her employer quickly fired her and released a statement about her termination and upholding its values of diversity, inclusivity, respect, and equality.
Undeterred, Gaddis took to X to vent: "If my freedom of speech taken, they'll be coming for yours next." She then added, for good measure, "Thanks black community for helping to launch my new career in conservative media! You all played your role well like the puppets you are."
Gaddis is certainly free to say whatever she wants, just as her former employer and anyone else can and should hold her accountable for the offensive things that come out of her time-warped mouth.
This situation serves as a teachable moment for employers. In an era where personal and professional lives intertwine through social media, it's crucial to manage the risks associated with employees' off-duty conduct online.
Here are 2 key takeaways for your business:
1./ Establish Clear Social Media Policies: Outline acceptable behavior and potential repercussions for posts that could harm your company's reputation. Make sure to train your employees on the important principle that there is no such thing as free speech at work and they can and will be held accountable for off-duty online conduct that could harm the business or its reputation.
2./ Implement a Crisis Management Plan: Have a strategy to address situations where an employee's social media activity harms the organization, including damage control steps and a public-relations strategy
The Lilly Gaddis controversy underscores the importance of accountability in managing social media presence. Employers must proactively address these challenges to protect their brand and foster a responsible and respectful digital culture among their workers.