I had to do some research for my boss, which caused me to fall behind on my work. In an attempt to catch up, I turned to ChatGPT.
However, my boss discovered that I used ChatGPT and fired me for producing fraudulent work.
It seems unfair and illegal, but the reality is that in most states for most private sector employees, the law states that you are employed “at will.”
This means that you can be fired for any reason, or no reason at all, even if it seems unjust.
However, there are certain protected reasons for which an employee cannot be fired, such as race, religion, age, etc.
In this case, it’s more likely that the problem was not the content that ChatGPT produced, but rather the fact that I lied about where the work came from.
Lying is a fireable offense for cause, which means that I could also be denied unemployment benefits, severance, and other benefits.
On another note, someone asked ChatGPT to write a response to a different question, and the response was an angry post about how it is tiring to be smart and blamed for everything.
However, I think that this is irrelevant to the issue at hand.
When it comes to dealing with uncomfortable situations with a colleague, it’s important to handle it with care.
If someone’s behavior is innocent but uncomfortable, it might be best to approach them directly and explain the situation politely.
Reporting them to the boss may end the behavior, but it may also lead to an uncomfortable dynamic.
However, if the behavior or person is in some way threatening or egregious, it’s important to escalate the situation if attempts to work it out fail.