I might get fired for Gross Misconduct and I'm scared what will happen

ScottishGuy1122

To give a bit of background, i have always been unlucky in always choosing the wrong thing...i had to resign from my previous job after almost being fired for social media posts. I have had huge debt problems multiple time and I'm only 34. My family dont know I'm in even worse debt and on a debt management plan.
I have been informed by my HR that someone has complained about a comment I made on Facebook which they said is racist..which I would never intentionally do...I'm so stressed and just feel like a total failure as i mess up time and time again and my mum was proud of me for working hard to get my new job....but I may get fired and lose everything as I have to pay back £12000 that the company paid for my study whilst I worked.
I don't know how I can survive this and what to do .

Lomast

I think the first thing you need to do is close all your social media accounts as you have already lost one job because of posts made and are now looking at losing another

Brynsam

You say you would never 'intentionally' do that - but have you done so unintentionally? 

The worst that could happen would be that you are fired and have to repay £12K - but if the company's invested that amount in you, your post would have had to be pretty unpleasant for them to decide to dismiss you purely on those grounds. What else have you done? 

The best that happens is you get a chance to explain your post and why it wasn't racist/intended to be racist - and then for goodness sake close your social media accounts to stop you repeating old mistakes, at least until you've got your life under control. You haven't been unlucky; you've been unwise.

JReacher1

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

ScottishGuy1122

JReacher1 said:

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

My Facebook wasn't linked, it had no details of my employment but they found an old linked in profile with the same photo

ScottishGuy1122

Brynsam I don't believe I used it in a racist way, I may have said something in an unexpected turn but I've not seen the comment they talk about yet.

My response would probably still use stupid language which could amount to gross misconduct anyway

JReacher1

Adamthom85 said:

JReacher1 said:

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

My Facebook wasn't linked, it had no details of my employment but they found an old linked in profile with the same photo

I’m still confused. It’s a private Facebook post with no link to your current employer. Someone you worked with appears to have found your Facebook and linked it back to your LinkedIn to prove it’s you. They’ve then said you’ve posted something offensive. 

It depends what your job is but personally I’m not sure this is gross misconduct. What Racist word have you used?

KatrinaWaves

JReacher1 said:

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

So if a company pays for my education, and then I stop turning up or do something horrific at work, I get a free education with no ties? 

JReacher1

KatrinaWaves said:

JReacher1 said:

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

So if a company pays for my education, and then I stop turning up or do something horrific at work, I get a free education with no ties? 

Yep I would assume so. 

It would obviously ruin your reference being sacked for GM but could be a loophole to be exploited if you want to give it a try. 

Mrsn

It goes without saying you have to be super cautious with any social media platform.... without being too unkind this isn’t the first time this has happened so I would think some time away from it would be a very sensible start.

Im assuming you have work friends on Facebook which is how this has been found in the first place?

Grumpy_chap

KatrinaWaves said:

JReacher1 said:

I would doubt you have to pay the £12k if you’re fired. These sort of deals are to stop you leaving not if the company itself decides or fire you. 

Why is your social media account linked to your work? Keep it completely separate from your social life and these problems will stop happening. 

So if a company pays for my education, and then I stop turning up or do something horrific at work, I get a free education with no ties? 

No.  The tie-in deals normally cover if you resign or get dismissed for your fault.  The only exclusion is usually redundancy.