If it came out that a top exec at your firm was married to someone in a controversial profession, how do you think the company would react?
If you worked for this Florida town, the answer would be: Issue an immediate termination.
Scott Janke was appointed as the town manager of Fort Myers Beach in March 2008. He performed that job until last week, when Mayor Larry Kiker learned Janke is married to an adult film star. Hours after hearing the news, Kiker called an emergency meeting with town council, which voted 5-0 in favor of the firing.
In October, Janke married Anabela Mota Janke, whom the editor of a Web site covering the porn industry recognized and identified after seeing a photo of the couple in a local newspaper. Word eventually spread to people in the town’s government.
Kiker acknowledged that Janke performed his job well and broke no laws or regulations. But he, along with the town’s council members, felt his wife’s profession shed a bad light on Fort Myers Beach, the Associated Press reports.
As severance, Janke will receive six months’ salary plus health benefits. The couple wouldn’t comment on the possibility of legal action against the company. A clause in Janke’s contract allowed his termination with a majority vote from council.
What do you think? Was it OK to fire Janke to protect the town’s reputation? What would have happened if an exec at your company was in a similar situation?
Let us know in the comments section below.
