At times, it’s easy to forget the definition of a “public space.” Private conversations—about family, friends, and in this case, co-workers—can end up getting heard by more than just the people who are supposed to listen. At least, that was the case for a group of men who spoke a little too loudly about controversial grievances.
In a video that received more than 113,000 views, Kayla Jean (@kaylajeantravels) told her audience about an overheard conversation. According to her, a group of men who were wearing T-shirts with their company’s name printed on them was disparaging a female supervisor in a public space.
So, Kayla Jean took matters into her own hands. She drafted a message to the company’s head of HR on LinkedIn to let them know about the issue.
But her commenters weren’t convinced it was the right move.
What were the men saying?
Kayla Jean said she was out at lunch for work. But she overheard a conversation between two gentlemen, who she said had a company logo on their shirts.
“They’re talking about a manager of theirs who’s a woman who’s a lot more emotional and problematic than any of her male peers because she’s a woman,” she said.
Kayla Jean said the men were using real names throughout their conversation. She added that she’s pretty well connected on LinkedIn, so she was quickly able to find out who they were with a simple search.
“ I just did a couple [of] name searches plus their company name, found who they are, all of them, as well as the woman that they’re talking about…” she said. “[I have a] message drafted to the senior HR business partner of their company. It could really do something negative or positive to your career.”
Kayla Jean told her audience to take the experience as a lesson.
“It’s a small world, and we’re more connected than you think. Please be aware of how you’re talking about people as well as representing yourself and the company you work for,” she wrote in the description.
@kaylajeantravels It’s a small world and we’re more connected than you think. Please be aware of how you’re talking about people as well as representing yourself and the company you work for. These managers are talking about their subordinate 🤦♀️ #corporate #smallworld #BeNice #girlpower ♬ original sound – Kayla Jean | Multipotentialite
People were divided
In the comments section, viewers seemed split as to whether the content creator was making the right decision. Her commenters mainly focused on the ethics of whether she should report individuals who weren’t necessarily on the clock.
“Public service announcement, mind your business. They’re not at work, they’re venting on their own time. In private,” one commenter said.
“Or maybe just eat lunch and mind your business. Some people are always looking to make trouble,” another commenter added.
In response, Kayla Jean created a follow-up video. She reiterated her stance. “Wearing a company logo while talking about an employee you manage, as well as using your own names while out in public, makes it the organization’s business,” she said.
Another commenter, who defended Kayla Jean, said, “So telling how most of the comments saying mind your business are from men.”
The Legal Debate
While viewers debated the logistics of the situation, another simply stated, “If you’re wearing anything that indicates the company you work for: Act professionally everywhere.”
From a legal perspective, this is true. Employers in at-will states can terminate employment for any number of reasons, which even includes off-duty conduct. Conduct in uniform is generally considered a reflection of the company, regardless of whether the employee is working.
In one viral example, Chick-fil-A allegedly fired eight employees after they posted a TikTok dance of themselves in uniform. In another example, United Airlines employees who made negative comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination—even though they were not trying to represent the company online—were placed on leave.
Both of those examples were related to social media posts, though, so what about in-person conversations? Legally, those are risky, too.
A company may terminate an employee for making disparaging comments to avoid vicarious liability. Vicarious liability is a legal doctrine: If an employee actively discriminates, harasses, or harms another party while representing their company, the company can be vicariously included in a future civil claim. Vicarious liability may not necessarily be relevant in this circumstance, because it depends on exactly what the employees said. But most businesses try to avoid legal or public risk as much as possible.
Additionally, most companies do not want their employees to discuss other employees in a negative light, especially in public spaces. From a public relations perspective, it could lead to a loss of interest from potential clients.
Subplot News reached out to Kayla Jean via TikTok direct message for comment.
