Work and Facebook

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Not for me but for a friend who is being disciplined for a comment she made on Facebook. Her comment was 'Do not want another day like that :(' and it was about something that happened at home yet she has received a written warning at work for it. Is that acceptable?

[Portofino]

Yes - work and FB do not mix. If i were her, I would grovel and say I had learnt the error of my ways.

[Portofino]

I work for a telecom's company, have no work friends on FB and often get enquires about phones/internet or complaints about service etc. I am employed as an ambassador of my company and would never, ever post anything derogatory or unhelpful about them ever - no matter if I privately agreed that someone else offered a better deal, or servie was shit. It really is NOT worth it.

[PositiveAttitude]

Surely, though if it was about something that happened at home it had nothing to do with work, so why should she have had a warning and need to grovel?

[Londonista1975]

Did she make the comment on work time?

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

I have no idea, she has other colleagues who have posted things like 'What a week!' or 'What a day!' and not been disciplined for it and at least one of those colleagues is in a managerial role whereas this friend isn't. seems unfair. Either no-one can post things like that or everyone can.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

No the comment was made outside of the working day.

[Londonista1975]

In that case I think they're out of order. If she has a union She should seek their advice, or alternatively go to a C.A.B.

[MrsTomHardy]

I think they're out of order.
You can write what you like on your own status about your own private life.

Many a day I've wanted to come home and have a rant about work on FB but I know that I can't.....

[Portofino]

Depends what she said and if she mentioned work or not (by name). If she just said she had a hard day and there is NO link between her FB and work.....

[Portofino]

Does her profile mention where she works?

[Portofino]

And yes - you can write on your own status about your own private life - but it is disingenuous to think that HR ie when you go for a job don't look at these things. Check your settings carefully. That - "hanging off - pulled a sicky" could come back to haunt you. So many people seem to forget that what you type on the internet is not secret.

[twinklytoes]

has she been through the disciplinary procedure? you can't just receive a written warning?? there needs to be a fact find, she needs to be interviewed.

a similar case (similar statement but then the comments below between them and others identified the workplace) went to displiciplinary in my workplace - full fact find and interviews - the person got an improvement notice rather than formal warning under the policy.

[hermioneweasley]

Effectively there is no redress outside the company if you're just given a warning. Was she given the right to appeal? Inconsistent application of policy should be good grounds for appeal.