Employment & social media

Undervalued

Jitterbug123 wrote: »

In fact by linking your personal account to your work you put yourself in fishy territory if you ever say anything that could be considered defamatory to them...

Well it can anyway, even without a specific link, if it is identifiable. Lots of people have been sacked for exactly this.

Virtually all employment contracts will have a clause about not doing anything that would bring the employer into disrepute. Even if there is not a specific clause it could easily be argued to be an implied term.

jimmy2times

What would work say about status's that were about dreading going to work, but that weren't actually attacking the company in any way.

I have about 400 facebook friends, and nearly every morning, the status's are all very similar, along the lines of:

''Oh God, another work day! - Wish I could teleport to the weekend! Roll on 5 O'clock!!'

Would even that be frowned upon? Just people being honest, lol

Undervalued

jimmy2times wrote: »

Would even that be frowned upon? Just people being honest, lol

It could be in some environments.

OK, many employers wouldn't be too bothered but some take a very tough line on this sort of thing.

Even if they are generally fairly relaxed it is the sort of thing that can be trotted out if they are looking for an excuse. The fact that others do it and get away with it is not a valid defence.

MikeTX

What kind of company is this?
Some companies had refused to give candidate a job offer, becouse they were not added as facebook friends, and therefore unable to spy on potential employee. But what you're saying sounds ridiculous to me.

CC-Warrior

Undervalued wrote: »

It is perfectly enforceable if those are the terms on which you are taken on. In that respect it is no different to a strict dress code, a requirement to live within a certain number of miles or whatever. If you don't like the terms don't take the job.

As I said, imposing it on existing staff and ultimately dismissing somebody who refused to comply MIGHT be deemed unfair by a tribunal. However unless they have been there two years they couldn't claim in any case.

I struggle to see why an employer might think this so important but that is another matter.

I disagree, as you can put anything in a contract. For example there could be a clause that you have to strip naked on your last day, would that be enforceable too just because it's in the contract? Or you had to shoot someone in the face?

Undervalued

CC-Warrior wrote: »

I disagree, as you can put anything in a contract. For example there could be a clause that you have to strip naked on your last day, would that be enforceable too just because it's in the contract? Or you had to shoot someone in the face?

A contract term that required somebody to do something illegal wouldn't be enforceable (as would be the case with both of your examples i.e. indecent exposure and assault or worse)!

However the point at issue here, if freely agreed to in a contract, would be perfectly enforceable.

patman99

Nothing stopping the employee setting-up a Facebook account for work then posting nothing on it.
Same as Twitter.

If you need to set up an account to get/keep a job there is nothing to say that once you have 'friended' or 'followed' your employer, you do not friend or follow anyone else.

Firms want to increase their social media spread, hence some requiring employees to have FB/twitter accounts, but if the employee then does not follow anyone else, then the whole exercise is pointless.

consumers_revenge

Interesting thread

We were asked specifically not to put down our workplace on fb. I suspect so as to not look like they employ a numpty should they post about being drunk, throwing up over grandma etc

So I changed mine to a place where I used to work and was most happy working until a career change.

funny they don't like that either

scooby088

I never add work people on my facebook account too many spies, if it became a issue I would set up another account with work as my only friend on there and just forget the password so I never log in again.