Investigation disclosed on social media

SO_TIRED

I am a civil servant and am currently been investigated for a malicious complaint by my line manager who is trying to cover his own tracks. I have attended my investigation interview and am waiting for it to be typed up.
Last night i found that someone on Facebook who is not employed by the civil service had made a public post stating that I am suspended and being investigated.
I thought under ACAS guidelines, all investigations should be kept confidential.
I have reported this breach to the Information Commissioners.
Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Dox

Raise it at work as well as the IC. Report it to Facebook and ask them to remove it as potentially defamatory (even if it is technically true they may well do so).

DCFC79

Surely it should be easy enough for the employer to find out who leaked it, only a small number knew of the suspension.

Marvel1

Dox wrote: »

Raise it at work as well as the IC. Report it to Facebook and ask them to remove it as potentially defamatory (even if it is technically true they may well do so).

Take a screenshot first as evidence,.

Also look through their friend list to see if you can find a connection - screenshot that too.

Undervalued

SO_TIRED wrote: »

I am a civil servant and am currently been investigated for a malicious complaint by my line manager who is trying to cover his own tracks. I have attended my investigation interview and am waiting for it to be typed up.
Last night i found that someone on Facebook who is not employed by the civil service had made a public post stating that I am suspended and being investigated.
I thought under ACAS guidelines, all investigations should be kept confidential.
I have reported this breach to the Information Commissioners.
Any advice or help would be appreciated.

Guidelines is the key word. Following a different procedure is not, in itself, unlawful.

It is not actually uncommon for a firm to make a public statement saying that XX has been suspended pending investigation, particularly if the alleged misconduct has received any publicity. Suspension is (in theory at least) a neutral act.

If a member of staff has "leaked" without official permission then obviously they too could be subject to discipline.