Can we stop employees from having direct contact?

undercoverirish

I didn!!!8217;t mean it to come across like that. She!!!8217;s a great girl too, they!!!8217;re all great. The lads are a bit closer knit because they have a lot in common and they can be themselves around each other. They can have potty mouths and I have warned them before to make sure and stem that behaviour when they!!!8217;re on conference calls or having get togethers.

Cheeky_Monkey

You have walked into a domestic and blindly taken sides against the woman without knowing the facts.

The male colleague is obviously gutless or he would've dealt with it himself rather than go running to the boss telling tales.

I agree that you have made a mistake only taking action against the woman and not the man who, by all accounts, was complicit in the contact until his wife found out.

Diamandis

I think you've learned to stay out of issues like this. I'd maybe get statements from those that complained so you have proof of these complaints being made about her just in case but if she's causing trouble I would be inclined to dismiss her.

undercoverirish

The lad in question did disconnect her or whatever it is they do and said he wanted to keep it professional. I think she tried adding him again or something like that. But with their social media I!!!8217;m guessing we shouldn!!!8217;t really get involved?

suki1964

I have to agree with Cheeky Monkey here

I think you are going to have to go back, call them both in, tell them that you have made a huge mistake and that you need the two of them to sort it out

Then give the guy what for for putting you in that position

suki1964

Diamandis wrote: »

I think you've learned to stay out of issues like this. I'd maybe get statements from those that complained so you have proof of these complaints being made about her just in case but if she's causing trouble I would be inclined to dismiss her.

Why her?


Why not the fella who was encouraging her till the wife found out?

Why should the woman, who's possibly single, be the one punished for a married man not realising he's out of bounds?

ReadingTim

There will always be those who want to talk and gossip - around the water cooler, in the smoking room, down the pub on a Friday night etc.... it's human nature, and for some, the only thing that makes working in an office tolerable. Indeed, it's that human interaction which many miss when working remotely.

Therefore, your decree, however well meaning regarding communicating outside the official work communication platform for is as hopeless as trying to ban "office gossip" - honestly, it's like trying to command the tide, even without someone pouring oil on the flames by claiming discrimination etc....

Suggest the best thing you can do is to remind people that matters of a work nature should not be discussed off the official work platform, and that the platform should only be used for work matters not gossip. Anything more, such as trying to fight human nature, and you're on a hiding to nothing....

undercoverirish

In fairness, I didn!!!8217;t know all the background on it. My ops manager is sitting telling me now.

suki1964

I think what reading Tim has offered is the only way forward

Then an apology to her

Then get the guy in and haul him over the coals for getting you in this mess

Diamandis

Wait a mimute? It was one colleague she messaged? Then you REALLY shouldnt have got involved. I'd say sorry very quickly.