Sacked for a facebook status update...any help/thoughts/advice?

starsinmycrown

this is bloody disgusting, where do we draw the line, if its okay to go through peoples facebook profiles and emails gagging them, why not go through peoples phones for texts? I feel sorry for your friend for working for such a nazi organisation. What did he write by the way? did he put " my job sucks" or did he put " if anybody wants to hack into a customers account- ask me!"

poet123

The top and bottom of it is RBS are looking to reduce the workforce,so clearly those employees who give them an excuse will be among the first to go,...in whatever way possible.

Purplepumpkin

Really crazy to see this post today. I was shocked earlier today when I seen that someone got fired for saying that they thought their job was boring on Facebook, seems employers are becoming paranoid of the impact of facebook these days.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090226/tuk-sacked-for-calling-job-boring-on-fac-45dbed5.html

Honestly, I cant believe that companies would be so sad as to snoop on their employees like that outside of the workplace.

However, the story about the girls sacking is obviously worse than your friends situation, since he clearly broke the terms of his employment and although it seems petty for them to pursue it.......they covered themselves at the end of the day. The girl in the above story just said her job was a bit boring......:eek:

A lesson to us all I suppose.......big brother is always watching!!!:(

Doozergirl

Your friend will almost certainly have a union or two which if he hasn't already joined, he should now!

orangeslimes

thats ridiculous - the first thing is public knowledge anyway...obviously just looking for an excuse. maybe he can provide proof of his high facebook security settings

Paulos77

This is exactly like the company I work for. A colleague of mine put in his status a few months back that he is looking for pastures new and is bored of his job etc.

Next day he was halled up to the managers office and was given a warning. We were all then taken into a meeting and told about what happend. Thing is though the manager who found out and gave out the warning is not on facebook. He even said he didnt know what facebook was until he was told about this.

So it proves that someone in the company who is friends on facebook with this guy told the manager, so much of a friend eh?. Probably someone wanting brownie points. I dont mention work at all in my status, its not worth it.

Jennifer_Jane

Does anyone know if anything could be done to your pension if you complained about the Company? To me it's obviously not, but just wanted to check.

I'll tell anyone who'll listen what I earn, what bonusses etc. Seems to me it's only private because it's in the Company's interests not to have people discussing this. I think that's infringement of human rights. And I've probably told a huge number of people about how I disagree with Company policies, etc etc.

Why shouldn't I diss the Company - I work there (hard) and I get paid, that's the deal. It's not slavery - although feels that way...

Too much power - join the Union!

Jen
x

Spirit_2

It does look as if your friend has breached his company rules amouting to "gross misconduct" according to their criteria. If he tells lies to avoid responsibility in a disciplinary hearing he will only make things worse - poor judgement, disloyal and a liar!

Look for a mitigation - pleased with bonus, proud of RBS and own role - but poor choice of way to express it on this occassion - out of character, otherwise exemplary employee - niave but well meant ......

Get a TU rep or colleague to support him through the process.

Good luck

brightonman123

never mind what settings f/b was on- its not good to use it when you are supposed to be working!

leachyd

bad luck mate! i think the fact that facebook is passworded would be pretty decent proof that it was him/her that updated it - oh my! and it's still a public forum if you ask me. no sympathy really, who disses their workplace online!?