Is my boss allowed to go on my twitter account and show my updates to co-workers?

Sidekick2

Hi,

I don't know how many of you are familiar with twitter but it appears as though my boss has printed off my twitter updates and has shown the lady I work for. The only work related thing I've said on there is 'I hate work' and that was a while ago. All other updates are personal, silly things about my partner and random things (and yes yes, my profile should have been private but I didn't think my boss would be bored enough to look me up on this website). I've since made it private of course and will be very careful about what I say on the internet...but is she allowed to do something like this? Is this a breach of my privacy? It's not like I update my status during work time - everything i update on there is done in my own time.

I'm so annoyed!! (and thinking she's probably reading this now! - she seems to have a lot of time on her hands!)

Itsgottabedone

Oh dear! How awful for you to find out the importance of privacy settings in this way. No, it's not a breach of your privacy - just put it down to experience and thank your lucky stars that you didn't say anything really bad/embarrasing!

(PS I'm not your boss!)

Floss

Make it private (as you have done) make your Facebook private, don't update in works time and don't mention your job / place of work / colleagues.

Perhaps you could also ask her why she did it?

generaloneill

*prints and laminates*, filed under T, for twitter.

My boss used to read what I wrote on the toilet cubicle wall and made it a sackable offence to write on the walls. So this random board of wood appeared and everyone used that instead.

Sidekick2

Thanks for your replies so far. Makes me a little sad too because I thought my boss and I were friends. We're roughly the same age and always got on. I don't know why she chose to do something like this.

Uncertain

Long before the internet was even thought of, sombody important once said "A computer is like an unlocked filing cabinet with a built-in photocopier". I wonder what they would say now!

There is a huge amount of stuff on the 'net that will come back to haunt people - it could be a lot worse. Now, who shall I look up?

The answer to your question by the way is Yes

Strider590

Im afraid anything on the internet is in the public domain and therefore open to discussion by anyone to anyone. This is why I don't have a Facebook account despite everyone I know asking me why.

ceridwen

Thats the main reason I dont have a Facebook account either.....they shouldnt be looking me up....they really shouldnt....but I wouldnt put it past them.....in fact I'm willing to bet that they do have a hopeful look from time to time hoping to find me...

Work is work and Life outside Work is Life outside Work - but a lot of employers are "stepping over the line" right now. Personally....I take the view that its safe for me to mention how boring/low-paid my job is on here ....but I never specify what type of job I do or what employer I work for...just to protect myself.....(boring and low-paid would describe an awful lot of jobs ).

Though mind you - how would they prove ceridwen is *********** that works for them anyways?

So - I guess the message is no identifiable personal details: photos/name of employer/date of birth/exact location/etc anywhere where a nosy employer might find it....

I have long since learnt JUST how nosy and intrusive employers can be - some of them dont care a jot about either morals or whether they are legally entitled to pry - they will often just pry anyway.:mad:

Sidekick2

Would it be right for me to write a complaint letter to HER manager?

3plus1

Sidekick2 wrote: »

Is this a breach of my privacy?

It's not a breach of your privacy because the information was available for all and sundry to see. You didn't make your profile private, so you effectively said you were happy to share your updates with everyone in the world with a computer, and that includes your boss.

I do think it's a bit odd that she printed off your page and showed it to people? If she'd been viewing your profile in her lunch hour and wanted to show a colleague because you said something funny, then that wouldn't feel half as weird to me. It's the getting a hard copy for keeps and waving it around that gets me. Not really sure what her deal is.

To be honest, I'd let this one go. But I'd be a bit more careful with what you say in front of your boss from now on. If you get on with colleagues, sometimes it's easy to treat them as friends - even when they're in charge of whether you get a raise or not. You do sometimes have to step back and draw a line.

ohreally

Sidekick2 wrote: »

Would it be right for me to write a complaint letter to HER manager?

No.

She has however put her cards on the table. She is not a friend, treat her accordingly.