Employee has a naughty past: Should you fire her?
December 18, 2008 by Shane BorerPosted in: "Would you want this person in Finance?", Discrimination, Special report
If you found out one of your employees or co-workers had a former career in adult-oriented cinema, would you expect her to be terminated?
Louisa Tuck, a playground and cafeteria aide at an elementary school in Vineland, NJ, has caused some major controversy in the school district.
Tuck, who also works as a supervisor for children’s programs at the local YMCA, starred in adult movies, performances and photo shoots under the name “Crystal Gunns.” Frank Giordano, the Board of Education’s president, wanted to terminate Tuck, but she and her lawyers claimed her past work in the adult entertainment industry had no bearing on her ability to perform her most recent job.
Although it’s been more than five years since Tuck was involved in the adult industry, her films and other photographs were easily accessed until recently. Once news of her past came to light, administrators of a site featuring her work made the Web page password-protected.
Some of Tuck’s co-workers claimed she’s “an excellent role model with good values,” and that they’d “trust her with children at any time.”
But Giordano and several parents still pushed for Tuck’s termination. Giordano said she “could be one of the best aides we have,” but that her involvement in adult entertainment makes him question how good of a role model she can be.
The complaints eventually wore Tuck down: She issued a one-sentence letter of resignation to the school district, claiming that she was “resigning in good standing.” Although her letter has been turned in, her resignation won’t be official until the school board approves it at its next meeting, scheduled for mid-January.
What would you do? Did Tuck’s past work have an impact on her former position as a school aide? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Tags: Former career, Password-protected, Role model, Termination
December 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
leave her be. for the love of God, everyone judges everyone!
She did it five years ago!
she’s a good worker. give her a break.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Not a factor in her current employment. Appears she has proven herself to many different groups’ co-workers and parents alike. I understand concern with our children’s safety and influence, but that is something all adults should be observant of. It appears she has not given any reason to pose any threat or ill influence to the children.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Leave her alone. The elementary kids would never find out unless some idiot would tell them, and how many would understand what they would be talking about anyway. And by the way, how did they find out about her past? Someone was looking at the movies????? Unless something comes to light in her present employment that would be questionable, I believe that she should be able to keep her job.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Difficult choice, but a simple question is to ask yourself, “Would you want a porn star to teach your kid?” However, she’s a playground/cafeteria aid, so I’m OK with that.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Doesn’t matter how it ends, she won when she was strong enough to hold her head up and resign with dignity. Shame on those who brought her to that decision. It is not a perfect world and those who thinik they are perfect would probably never be able to pass the exam allowing them entitlement to the Perfect Club.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I understand what everyone is saying, however, there also comes to light the fact that there are those in the adult industry that also film with children. Would you want a ‘child molester’ teaching your children even though they hadn’t been in any trouble in over 5 or more years, or a former ‘Madam’ teaching?
I know we can all change, but her ‘choice’ of previous employment, would make it very hard for me to be okay with her ‘teaching’ my children. All of this just goes to show that our past can and usually does catch up with us in one form or another.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
There’s nothing in any of the Board’s pasts that they wish they hadn’t done? They never partied hard in college or did anything they’d like not to come to light? How’d they find about this lady’s past? Who was watching one of her movies?
December 19th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
She should not be asked to resign. What she did was 100% legal. It should not be a factor in any way, otherwise her employment application should have asked, “Have you ever had sex?”
December 19th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
So let me see…
Five years ago she had a perfectly legal job and she likely used the money she made to pay her rent, utilities, car payment and put food on her table.
As there is no mention of any criminal history, we can pretty safely assume she didn’t even use the money she made for anything illegal.
Legal job, legal income, legally used…
I’m sorry, I don’t see a problem here.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Sure let her remain employed – as long as – just in case she ever is found doing anything inappropriate on the job with a child, then others don’t turn and sue you for keeping her after you found out about her past?????
December 19th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
She should not resign or be fired. Porn is not “child molester”. What has she done in the past 5 years and why should being an actor, even if it is off the norm, be a factor if she can supervise children on a playgound or in a cafeteria. What experience did she have to get the job at the school in the beginning? I would have no problem with her supervising my grandchildren in a play area.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I don’t see the issue with her past. It’s not like she was a lawyer or anything slimey like that.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
For all the idiots trying to call porn “child molesting” did you have sex before you were 18? If so, and the person you were with was also underage as you were, should you be fired because you (unlike this woman) actually DID have sex with a child?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I agree with Sandar Kay and Patricia!!!! For crying out loud people tend to your own values and morals and things will run pretty smoothly. I have found that he who cries the loudest about whatever the issue are often the ones that have their own skeltons in the closet. We all have our crosses to bear. I say she should have not resigned.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
She can come work for our company! =)
December 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Those of you without sin cast the first stone.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
If there was any evidence the woman in question had acted inappropriately with children in either her former career in the adult entertainment industry or in her work with the school, then she would have been dismissed for cause and rightly so. However, there is no such evidence. What kind of message is it to send to children that if you make a “bad” choice there is no redemption? Should we really be telling them that you may as well stay on the “bad” path because even if you make a change for the better, eventually some sanctimonious idiot(s) will find out about your past and punish you for it? I think what is truly shameful is that she was driven to resign by those who apparently are unwilling to give someone a second chance.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
They have no legal basis to fire her. She will always clear any clearance checks because she did nothing legally wrong. She should not resign, and if they terminate her she has basis to take them to the cleaners.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
So the Board of Ed president calls her one of the best aides they’ve ever had and her colleagues say they would trust her with their kids. But because some misguided parents decide to press for her resignation, she not only has to give up her job, but has all of this nonsense spread over the internet to follow her to her next place of employment.
And to Jean, who comments that some porn actors perform with children, tarring this woman with the same brush and calling her a child molester is absurd! She performed in movies, perhaps a bit more explicitly than what you see can on the big screen at your local multiplex (but not by much). Does that make Paul Newman, Glenn Close, and the rest of Holloywood child molesters too?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Unbelievable how judgmental people can be. I know people who were strippers working their way through college, and then using their education to be advocates of the poor. I guess they should stop what they are doing too. And Jean – are you trying to tell us that you have been perfect all your life? I bet you had sex before marriage – that’s a sin Jean. You should be fired because it was wrong. I’ll bet everyone in your school knew about it too. Hmmmm, can’t trust you! If you have children, child services should take them away because your past has now caught up with you.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
When i last looked being involved in adult films was not a crime. This lady then decided to quit and start a new career. What right have we to critise this lady. By all accounts her fellow co-workers all liked tha lady, praising her as a good role model.
What is wrong with people. “Those in glass houses should not throw stones”. Why put labels on people. If a teacher is found to be a child molester or sleeps with her students (many examples) are all teachers bad. Of course not.
This is a ridulous situation. I only hope she sues the school board and the stupid paranoid childrens parents for putting her through this “witchhunt”.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
She should keep her job. I think she is an excellent role model. Children today need to know that if they are not happy with their lives they can make a change and better their lives. Her ability to do well in her current position inspires hope and optimism.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
People are let go all the time for things on their MySpace pages… why should this be any different. If you want things private then you have use better judgement.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
This is a case of not having enough real issues to worry about. So if she was a stripper in college the same fate? Give me a break. Young adults often change careers several times before finding a field that best suit them. Look at aspiring actors and singers, etc. Porn is really just another form of entertainment. Her time working in the porn industry could have been hell for her until she found the best way out or just changed her mind about it. I once helped a friend out with her sex phone lines and currently work as an accountant. She could have always wanted to work with children because she loves kids so she took the steps to get out of the porn industry. Good for her. I’d rather know my child is being supervised by an ex-porn star that loves children than a life-time care provider that doesn’t care much for children but does it just to say they have a job.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
This is a case of not having enough real issues to worry about. So if she was a stripper in college the same fate? Give me a break. Young adults often change careers several times before finding a field that best suit them. Look at aspiring actors and singers, etc. Porn is really just another form of entertainment. Her time working in the porn industry could have been hell for her until she found the best way out or just changed her mind about it. She could have always wanted to work with children because she loves kids so she took the steps to get out of the porn industry. Good for her. I’d rather know my child is being supervised by an ex-porn star that loves children than a life-time care provider that doesn’t care much for children but does it just to say they have a job.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I’m happy to see that most of the posts here are from realistic, non-judgmental individuals. As I believe someone previously mentioned, no one knows why she did what she did, and it does not matter. Acting in adult films is not illegal. She has changed careers, and by virtually everyone’s admission, is very good at her current job. Children are far more influenced by their home life and parents’ actions than by a teacher’s past. EVERYONE has done things they wished they hadn’t, even evangelists and priests. If she is performing her job well, that’s it, end of story.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I am growing very tired of the current trend that everyone and everything must be absolutely, positively, politically correct, perfect in every way, and heaven forbid if at any point in your past you did anything someone else might construe as incorrect, non-PC, or possibly not moral. We exploit and sensationalize any little flaw in anyone’s character, from stars to politicians. No one on this earth is perfect, and it is not our place to pass judgment. Ye without sin cast the first stone. In the spirit of Christmas – Jesus befriended Mary Magdalene.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
The replies are a sad state of the liberal thinking of this nation. You can say what you want but I didn’t “resort” to doing porn movies just for the money. I got a job that was respectible and wouldn’t think of doing porn and having to worry about it staining my past, as it does… In every job there are certain traits and expectations that responsible employers should be looking for If you hire someone to handle your finances you want someone that has proved that they can be responsible with money. If you hire a police officer you look for someone who hasn’t been in trouble with the law. A BIG part of looking after children is teaching them to make good, moral, proper choices. Doing porn movies doesn’t fall into any of those categories. I never did go for the do as I say not as I do teaching.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Leave her alone. She is and has proven herself that she has left the past behind. I am quite sure
that all of us has some dark secret that we wouldn’t like to be reveal. But because we are humans,
we can change. Be Bless.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Give her a break! People love to judge others and this will never stop. We need to love others not rip them to shreds. This lady was probably a lot better role model than some of those who would judge her. The one post referencing “molesters” in the adult industry is absurd because they can hide in all walks of life and under many different outer appearances. Under this theory we should ban Catholic Priests shouldn’t we? also Doctors, Lawyers, Gas Station Attendants and so on…
I’m a Christian and I believe we should forgive people and love them not judge and comdemn them.
December 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
This woman would have never been hired in the first place, had she disclosed her prior career as a pornographic actress when she applied for employment. Adult film actress does not equate with pedophile but it does equate with immorality and failure to set a wholesome example for children.
How many mothers and fathers would truly want your own child to grow up to be someone who earns their living by exposing and selling what should be their most intimate relationship? For all the women who are employed in the adult entertainment industry including all those college students who so admirably support themselves in this way, thankfully there are vastly more hard working women who have higher self esteem and moral values than to sell a look at their ass. Subsequent discovery of suppressed career history is ample grounds for termination of an at-will employment. Young folks be aware that bad decisions can affect your future.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Absolutely, positively horrifying. How – with all the wars, bloodshed, crime and corporate/government corruption around us – do some of us still find time to appoint ourselves the moral compasses of society? Were I her, I would have found myself the most vicious civil right attorney I could find and sue the school district for everything I could. Obviously, for not doing so herself, she is even more worthy of praise. May she find better employment in a more compassionate and understanding environment than our public service establishments.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Her past employment choices should not prevent her from working a position that she is qualified for.
I think if the school board accepts her resignation, then the person who obviously was surfing the web for porn sites should be placed through the same amount of scrutiny. What if that person works at the school, also? Then that person’s employment should be terminated, based on the same reasons. This is really terrible that a small handful of people are choosing to let their small minded views determine what happens to someone else. But, then again, humans have been doing that since the beginning of recorded history, i.e. Mary Magdelene.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Pam, I agree with most of what you say. However, let’s not be too politically correct by being politically correct either.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
The past is exactly that- in the past. If she’s a good worker and poses no threat to anyone, let her be! Forgive her- the Lord does….don’t people forgive others anymore…. Like some of you said, nobody’s perfect!!! Nobody!
December 19th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
We all have sinned and come short of the glory. I feel she should keep her job, She has not committed a crime, and she’s not a “child molester”. Before you judge, look in the mirror to see if you like what you see. I’m sure you’ve done something in your past or present that you’re not proud of. That’s what’s wrong with America we’re all quick to judge and we are the main ones with skeletons in our closets. Leave the poor girl alone.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
it is legal to say the”n” word; but if i were a member of the kkk 5 years ago (a legal organization) and made commercials where i used that language and it was discovered on the internet, my current employer would probably fire me upon finding out (and i doubt i would get this outpouring of support)… sometimes people’s choices follow them irregardless of legality… as many of you have offered, i’m sure she will have no problem finding employment… but do not confuse legallity with acceptance… just because you can legally do something, it doesn’t mean others have to accept it… at least in my state, your employer has as much right to fire you as you do to quit…
December 19th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I’m sorry, but in accounting or retail, etc. OK, she can stay. Around kids, PLEASE! She is NOT a good role model. I appreciate it that she’s trying to reform, but she then needs to pick a different career choice. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY! Helloooo – “Our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, determine our destiny”
She made bad decisions before – that doesn’t mean she can’t earn a living, but not with kids. Your past does influence your current situation. That’s life.
I don’t think that is casting stones, that is making good judgments~casting stones would be to say she is a bad person, isn’t worthy, etc. but saying she needs to find a proper career field that doesn’t involve kids, that is another. You can get too PC!
December 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
the only one currently worried about her ablitiy to be a roll model are the adults, I’l bet dollars to donuts that the kids dont’ care. If anything she would be a good roll model for how to turn you life around.
I don’t believe there is any legal base to fire her.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I am so sick of the past being the present issue. Leave her alone. She isn’t hurting anyone.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Call me republican or something worse if you wish, but I believe the employer has the absolute right to determine whether an employee meets ALL of the qualifications of the job, not just those related to their abilities. A person’s past decisions affect other people’s perception of their competence to do the job, whether it really effects the actual performance or not. This is not something that can be overloked in some types of employment. Working with children is one of these in my opinion.
As a Christian, I believe that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace (including me)! However, there are also consequences of sin that can not be taken away. We all have our “crosses to bear” as was pointed out before, but that’s the point… we have to bear them. While I personally would not have a problem with this lady supervising my kids, I can appreciate that someone else might. There are plenty of other types of employment where this lady’s past would pose no issues.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I will start by saying I agree that she should not be fired or forced to resign. This appears to be a case of overreaction. However, let’s adress a critical issue. The set of standards for a person wanted to be employed in our schools to teach or mentor our children is different than those in a normal business office. There is simply more at stake. If someone does not want to deal with that extra scrutiny, they should work somewhere else. The safety of our children is too important. Something that may be a non-issue for employment in my office may be an indicator of bad judgement related to employment at a school.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Jean – There is a big difference between porn and child porn. Because somone needs money and gets it the lazy way by taking their clothes off on camera doesn’t mean they have or approve of sex with children. People who who have sex with children go to jail (where they belong) if they get caught, as do people who look at the pictures.
Perhaps no one that has ever looked at porn should be able to work at a school either. Hmm, that would cause quite the teacher shortage!
December 19th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
This appears to be a case of discrimination. These events happened more than “five” years ago. She changed her life and for the past five plus years has been what appears a model individual. I would want to know who and why someone would be looking at this type of website in the first place? They may be the individual that needs to be questioned! However, society has been changing how it views individual’s past and this appears to be the case in this instance. This individual has provided “no” indication that what happened in the past was serious enough to distort her future decisions or actions around children. This lapse in prior judgment appears to be like a learning experience in ones life who has learned from their prior actions. Give the kid a break.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
What is the issue? That was 5 years ago. This is today. I judge prople on the quality of their work not on what some biddie has to say, and that is the way it should be!
December 20th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Pedophilia is an illness. Being an adult film actor is not and doesn’t carry any more risk of inappropriate future behavior than any other job. Then look to the decisions the person made since leaving that career – if they were sound, keep ‘em.
December 20th, 2008 at 11:56 am
She should not be fired or asked to resign! I wish some of my past teachers had been porn stars! I do agree that our children need protection, but to what degree? She was just getting paid to do something that all of us do on a regular basis. While a lot of prudes may think her choice in adult films was wrong, there are a lot that it was and is ok. Thats what makes America great! Let the woman be!
December 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Her past activities have no impact upon her current position–including “role model” if that is a part of the job.
In fact, what a person does before employment or on their own time during employment is their business unless it can be shown in court that it affects their ability to preform their job.
Technically, her previous position was that of “actress” which is a position it seems a vast proportion of the population not only approves of, but wishes they could obtain.
Technically, if she lied about the position to acquire her current position she could be fired for that–but it is a trivial matter to fire someone for since any lies told were told because of the likely-hood that such information, while not relevant to the job, has a high probability of adversely affecting the decision maker.
Given the real and difficult problems facing education, it is a waste of time to even think about it much–graduating people unable to read or write, do simple math, speak proper English etc. etc. is far, far more important to our society than what job a low-level non-teaching person previously held.
If I were her, and was terminated, I’d be certain to sue for discrimination.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
I agree with most of the comments posted in that she should not have been fired or harrassed. Working in the adult entertainment industry as an adult is not an illegal profession the last time I checked albeit it is not a choice that most of us will make nor would we want our children to make that choice. But if I had a child that did make that choice in her life, gave it up to have a job seemly more “moral” then I would do all I can to support her and help out in any way possible. And I feel that is what we in society should do as well. Support and reward those that are doing positive things and it seems she is now.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
“Everyone Get Real” – I can certainly appreciate your comments about past decisions affecting your present circumstances; however, I am someone that made some terrible decisions in the past and has gone on to earn 2 advanced degrees and the executive HR seat in a Big 5 organization. The mindset of people, in their youth, is unexplainable but people often move toward a more progressive and responsible place in life where not only their values change, but their perspective. Thomas an employee’s right to terminate someone (even in an “at will” state) does not relinquish their obligation to to do so appropriately. Companies spend thousands of dollars mitigating and often settling wrongful termination cases everyday. The notion of “adult entertainment” is of personal preference and personal preferences are not licenses to discriminate against people. If so, everything becomes fair game – do “vegans” not hire previous “meat eaters”? Pause and think…
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Someone please explain to me how this person is a “threat” to the safety of the children. Also please explain to me how she is corrupting the morals of children. I had some good teachers and some bad ones through the years. The ones I remember as bad were not good at instructing, could not handle a class, did not develop a challenging curriculum. The good ones inspired me to reach higher, perform better, and develop an interest in something previously unknown to me. They helped develop my intellectual nature, my mind. My morals, ethics and values were developed by the actions of my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, the people you are around throughout your life – not the teacher you had for 9 months for 5th grade, or the cafeteria or janitorial worker. Family values are exactly that, family values. If your children would be influenced by knowing the past career of a school worker, then perhaps they need stronger values.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
CURIOUS GEORGE: sees no difference in the morality of porn actress and choice of diet. Have you ever heard of spurious analogy? Abstinence from pornography is also a personal choice, and one which the vast majority of parents would want their elementary age children to make. PAM doesn’t understand that MANY children in today’s schools do not have the benefit of one stable, drug-free, loving adult let alone an entire extended family to develop their family values, leaving only caring educators who often become influential role models in shaping self esteem and moral values in addition to teaching academics. Everyone deserves another chance at becoming a productive member of society, and no doubt Tuck may have always been a kind, caring, person whose moral values have now evolved into a cleaner choice of vocation A school administrator is responsible for meeting educational statutes while also qualitatively pleasing the range of diverse families and beliefs, has the right to utilize all information from all sources at any time to implement what he believes is best for the school district. Just like any other manager, the goals of the organization rise above the needs and feelings of any single employee. Had Tuck disclosed her prior employment, she could be evaluated solely on this position. The district administrator feels the attachment of negatives from her past outweighs the benefit of her value to the district, and must exercise his best judgement in the matter. The real reason I’m writing this is to try to understand something about where the morals of our country are today. Is it ok to be a pornographer? Does anyone believe that sex with God is the most wonderful thing in creation, but sex with the Devil in it is a powerful evil?
Do people still believe in good and evil? Other than a very few primitive cultures, all of mankind has and does live in monogamy irrespective of their religion.
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
everyone get real – RIGHT ON TARGET! Unfortunately we are in the minority in our present society and it is not likely many will agree. It has always been this way…one road is broad, the other is narrow. I applaud you for saying it, knowing full well you will be bashed by the liberal mindset that obviously dominates this website. I wouldn’t object to Ms. Tuck being involved in working with my children unless I had more information than what is given here, but I certainly understand why someone would.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that if Curious George hired someone to work in his “Big 5″ firm and subsequently found out that they had something “perfectly legal” in their past that affected their reputation in a very negative way with clients, he would want them terminated. In a school district setting, the parents are clients. If “several parents” whose kids attend this school see it as a problem (as the article states), the school board has an obligation to take appropriate action. I know she would not win this case in my state, but in Jersey…who knows?
January 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I believe in second chances. We have all done things that we wish we could do over differently. Movies and story lines galore agree. She should not be fired. However, I ask what is “She were a “He”?