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Can You Be Fired for Having an OnlyFans?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Employees and HR

 Finding and keeping a job is not always easy. And with more and more online options for making money such as OnlyFans, it’s natural for some people to wonder “can you be fired for having an OnlyFans?”

In an At-Will state, you can be fired for any reason, including having an OnlyFans account. However, most employers would not actively search for such accounts, if they are aware of it in the first place.

But it also depends on the kind of company you’re working for.

If they’re very accepting, it may not be an issue at all. But, if it’s a really conservative company, they may frown at it. At first blush, you might think, you should have a right to share whatever you like as long as it doesn’t involve work.

The truth, however, is that freedom is never absolute. What one person shares (even in good faith) could end up creating a hostile work environment, especially if co-workers starting viewing or sharing questionable images of you.

Let’s get into it!

Can employers see OnlyFans?

An employer could search for OnlyFans and your name, and see your account if it comes up. However, they can’t see the full account unless they create an account and subscribe to you. Plus you can select a user name that isn’t necessarily your real name.

And it wouldn’t actually occur to most employers to even do that search in the first place.

When you do get paid from OnlyFans, at the end of the calendar year, you will get a 1099 form from OnlyFans showing your earnings.

However, in most cases, this will NOT show up on a background check.

Plus, let’s be honest. OnlyFans isn’t just for racy or nude pictures. The other categories they offer creators include:

  • Cooking
  • Fashion
  • Gaming
  • Comedy
  • Fitness
  • Wellness
  • Acting

And there are more categories than that!

So it’s not like an employer would or should jump to the conclusion that you’re getting paid to be naked. While that is one possibility, there are many more that don’t fall into adult categories.

If you’re already employed, then you can simply check your company’s policy handbook about conduct or social media (since OnlyFans is considered social media).

If you’re thinking of working with them in the future, you could also ask those already working there about the company’s social media policy.

But again, in an at-will state, employers can fire anyone at any time for any reason that doesn’t violate the law.

Even something as subjective as having a bad attitude can be a big deal. It could even get an employee fired. Really? Yes, it can. That’s what I explored in a recent article of mine. And I get into a lot more detail about which states are at-will states too.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Does OnlyFans show up on background check?

Yes, your OnlyFans account can show up on a background check if the prospective employer ran a comprehensive check, and you have received a 1099 tax form from OnlyFans.

But for the most part that’s not likely.

Unless the job you are applying for is restricted or regulated, most employers, especially smaller ones, will just run a basic background check looking for:

  • Criminal history
  • Basic job history
  • Credit score
  • DMV records

So again, unless there is suspicion, to begin with, or the company is highly religious or conservative, in most cases, this is really a non-issue.

Unfortunately, most of the information we share online (even some that we’ve deleted) is still accessible via a simple Google search.

And if you’ve earned $600 and above from OnlyFans, you’d get a 1099 form from OnlyFans.

That is just about the only way OnlyFans would or could show up on a background report. And again, that’s not always going to show up, especially on a basic employment check.

But something as “simple” as gossiping, too, can lead to dire consequences in the workplace. It doesn’t just have to naked pics.

Really? Yes.

It may seem fun and harmless, but its impact in the workplace could be harmful. If you’re wondering what the consequences are, check out a recent article of mine. That’s what I explored in some detail.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Can you hide your identity on OnlyFans or use a fake name?

You do not have to use your real name as your screen name on OnlyFans, and you can choose to not show your face in photos. However, you do have to provide your real name, address, and proper identification to create your account.

So if you don’t have your real info on the back end, you won’t be able to get paid.

You’ll have to be careful so that you don’t reveal your real identity when promoting your OnlyFans account on other social media channels. I have a friend who, up until she got married was constantly posting about her OnlyFans account on both Facebook and Instagram.

And she obviously didn’t care. But doing that would make it very easy for employers to find out.

So to fly under the radar from nosey employers, I recommend:

  • Using a totally made-up name for your page
  • Not showing your face or blurring it out
  • Not sharing your OnlyFans on your other social media pages, or
  • Create alternate social media accounts with your OnlyFans name and just share on those accounts

Can you make money on OnlyFans without showing your face?

You can make money on OnlyFans without showing your face, especially if the rest of your body is considered especially attractive. And, there are some customers who are into feet pics, toy videos, and other parts of the body other than the face. 

OnlyFans is not a porn site, although, it allows adult content.

If you’re providing other services, you can do so without revealing your face. You could use an avatar or a cartoon, or any picture unless the service you’re offering is dependent on people seeing your face.

If you’re providing adult content, some folks don’t give a damn about seeing your face (if you catch my drift).

They’re interested in other stuff, and as long as they like what they’re seeing, they don’t care. If you really want to protect yourself, I suggest that you also do not reveal your actual location.

You’ll need to also promote your account.

But, be sure that you don’t reveal your real identity while marketing your account. After all, that would defeat the whole purpose of trying to be anonymous. 

Will having an OnlyFans affect employment?

From a tax standpoint, OnlyFans is a 1099 employer, meaning it does not impact your ability to work other jobs. From a morality standpoint, only religious or conservative companies are likely to care about an OnlyFans account, if they even become aware of it.

So it may or it may not.

It depends on the kind of company you work for and whether you’re actively promoting your OnlyFans account to other employees.

In most cases, employers won’t know or care.

But there could be employees who are highly judgemental and those who like gossiping. Both could ultimately lead to an unconducive work environment. So it’s best to not mention to anyone at work. It’s also best not to share it on your social media; especially if co-workers follow you.

And, if a company already has it in their employee handbook or any other publication that regulates employee behavior that certain online behavior (such as having OnlyFans) are not allowed, and you’re found to go against such a standard, you could be fired.

And as I said, if you’re working for a conservative company or are in the public service, having an OnlyFans account is likely going to affect your employment.

Both environments are particular about ensuring that employees align with some ethical codes.

So, it depends. But I still think in most cases, it’s not likely to come up.

Have you ever wondered whether an employee could be fired over the phone?

I took the time to write about it in a recent article of mine. Is it permissible under the law? The answer really surprised me!

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Conclusion

In the article above, we explored whether having an OnlyFans account could have a negative impact on your employment.

It depends on the kind of environment you work in, whether it’s an “at-will” employment, and even how you go about setting up the account.

 As long as you don’t actively promote it to other employees and it’s not strictly forbidden in the company’s policy, you don’t have much to worry about.

And, you could simply opt to make your account anonymous.  

Photo which requires attribution:

https://onlyfans.com/jessicamullen by jessica mullen is licensed under CC2.0

 
Jeff Campbell
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