Whatsapp & Disciplinary

Scoflo

Can anyone keep me right, please?

This is a small group (3) set up expressly for moaning about work and life.  One person has left and printed off messages and my friend now finds herself on a disciplinary Inappropriate Comments of an Aggressive Nature in a Group Chat.  Not sure why this occurred but is this reasonable?

Thanks

The_Fat_Controller

Speak to HR regarding the social media policy of the company.

Your friend is very likely on shaky ground.

MovingForwards

Yes, usually there's a clause in contracts about not badmouthing the company.

Never say anything negative on social media or in written format to any colleague as this is the risk that comes with it.

Scoflo

Grr.  Thanks.  It feels like such an immature way to deal with things - on every level.

B0bbyEwing

We don't have a policy on social media. 

However I was put on a written warning over it. 

A Co worker went on a rant about their managers, calling them a shower of poop etc. 

I left a comment simply saying don't be late in the morning. It was just a wind up but that's all I said. Others posted various other comments. 

They weren't warned as they were new to the company. 
I was put on a written warning for my comment. 

I then deleted all work folk from social media which is what I advise everyone to do. I also don't talk about work on social media. 

The_Fat_Controller

The only immature people here are those that formed the group and made the derogatory comments.

My old employer has a very strict social media policy which is clearly communicated to staff and all my old colleagues now keep very quiet.

TELLIT01

Never make any negative comment about work on any social media platform.  Then you are safe.

Scoflo

Whatsapp isn't social media tho.  It's a communication app, encrypted so apparently safer that text, unless someone prints off the conversation.

Undervalued

B0bbyEwing said:

We don't have a policy on social media. 

However I was put on a written warning over it. 

A Co worker went on a rant about their managers, calling them a shower of poop etc. 

I left a comment simply saying don't be late in the morning. It was just a wind up but that's all I said. Others posted various other comments. 

They weren't warned as they were new to the company. 
I was put on a written warning for my comment. 

I then deleted all work folk from social media which is what I advise everyone to do. I also don't talk about work on social media. 

Indeed.

There doesn't need to be a specific policy (although it is a good idea to have one) as there is an implied duty for an employee to act in good faith towards their employer.

Undervalued

Scoflo said:

Whatsapp isn't social media tho.  It's a communication app, encrypted so apparently safer that text, unless someone prints off the conversation.

Which is apparently what happened.

Never assume anything is confidential so only say "privately" what you would be prepared to say in public.

Exodi

In my previous employment, a mum (receptionist) and daughter (sales assistant) worked together at the same company.

The company went through a bad patch, and the daughter was made redundant. The mum then took to Facebook, posting a comment condeming the businesses decision.

Apparently one of the directors had been made aware of this, and she was pulled in the next day for a disciplinary meeting. She was told to immediately remove the comment, and that any other further defamatory comments made on social media would be grounds for immediate dismissal.

This company (and most I've worked in) have a social media policy as part of their employee handbook but even if they didn't, I think acting in good faith is implied.