Manager has openly criticised me on Facebook

Onemanarmy

Hello everyone,

I've recently found out that my manager has posted a photo of me along with a 200 word critique of my ability to do my job on a public Facebook page. It's so far attracted 40 likes and been shared 15 times. I'm really dissatisfied that comments which should have been spoken to me personally by my manager have instead been brought up on Facebook. I don't have a Facebook account myself and have been able to find it which shows how publicly visible it is. I am going to make a formal complaint when I see him but would like to know if other people have been in the same position and if so what advice could they give me if my complaint isn't taken seriously. My boss is the managing director so that there's nobody above them in the company that I can complain to.

Many Thanks,
D

DigForVictory

First, get & hold the evidence - ask an FB using friend to get screenshots.

Your manager has behaved very badly, but I'm not sure offhand what law he's broken, although I'll bet he's bent company policy & general HR guidelines into pretzels.

Your friend may be able to report it as cyberbullying to Facebook & get it & all shares taken down.

Best of luck.

Onemanarmy

DigForVictory wrote: »

First, get & hold the evidence - ask an FB using friend to get screenshots.

Your manager has behaved very badly, but I'm not sure offhand what law he's broken, although I'll bet he's bent company policy & general HR guidelines into pretzels.

Your friend may be able to report it as cyberbullying to Facebook & get it & all shares taken down.

Best of luck.

Thanks for your reply. I'm able to view it without an account because it's been posted on to a completely open Facebook group page and have already taken a screenshot.

I'm wondering if there's anyone official I can make a complaint to as the person who's written and posted the picture is the most senior in the company.

PasturesNew

You can read this for starters, to start to understand what he's done wrong.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q771.htm

In the first instance, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the information, you may wish to initially make a report to Facebook/Twitter (before contacting the police/Citizens Advice/a solicitor), as these sites have processes in place for such situations, and may be able to simply remove the content and/or close down the person's account.

In short: If you can get facebook to take it down, don't bother the police. If it's not true, sue him privately, don't bother the police.

Depends what he said though - and if it's true/not ... etc etc.

Onemanarmy

PasturesNew wrote: »

You can read this for starters, to start to understand what he's done wrong.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q771.htm



In short: If you can get facebook to take it down, don't bother the police. If it's not true, sue him privately, don't bother the police.

Depends what he said though - and if it's true/not ... etc etc.

Thank you for your comment, the post was critical of my ability to do my job and as such wouldn't be a criminal offence but is more of an employment law offence.

I've spoken to a friend and they've suggested that I could claim constructive dismissal, I'm not sure about this however.

Nicki

How long have you worked there? You'll need the qualifying 2 years service before you start even thinking about constructive dismissal and those claims are notoriously hard to win. You'd be better off pursuing a claim for defamation to be honest provided you feel comfortable handling this yourself (the onus will be on the employer to prove what he said was true not on you to prove it was false) and your damages claim could include loss of earnings as well as damage to your future employability. As the employer didn't bring these criticisms to your attention first, he wouldn't succeed in claiming honest opinion (used to be known as fair comment) as that's doesn't work where there's been malice which the use of facebook in this context would be good evidence of.

xapprenticex

Please tell me you have print screened it???

Now take it to HR, your manager is clearly stupid for doing something like that.

Takeaway_Addict

Onemanarmy wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I've recently found out that my manager has posted a photo of me along with a 200 word critique of my ability to do my job on a public Facebook page. It's so far attracted 40 likes and been shared 15 times. I'm really dissatisfied that comments which should have been spoken to me personally by my manager have instead been brought up on Facebook. I don't have a Facebook account myself and have been able to find it which shows how publicly visible it is. I am going to make a formal complaint when I see him but would like to know if other people have been in the same position and if so what advice could they give me if my complaint isn't taken seriously. My boss is the managing director so that there's nobody above them in the company that I can complain to.

Many Thanks,
D

If he is the MD then expect at best an apology or him to go on the defensive. Either way start looking for a new job!

Takeaway_Addict

xapprenticex wrote: »

Please tell me you have print screened it???

Now take it to HR, your manager is clearly stupid for doing something like that.

From what I read it is the MD, no one higher!

Mr.Generous

I take it it's a fairly small company. Time to look for another job for sure. Constructive dismissal requires such a serious breach of your employment conditions that you have no choice but to resign.

pupgrum

Find another job and leave without giving notice. Show a printout of the Facebook comment as your reason for leaving without giving notice. He won't be able to sue you.