Whatsapp & Disciplinary

Ath_Wat

Undervalued said:

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.

Well indeed, but it isn't social media that's the problem, it's someone deliberately showing private messages to others.  This is essentially like finding out someone has recorded a private conversation and played it back to your manager.

Ath_Wat

Exodi said:

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.

The difference between putting something on Facebook, which is designed for spreading information widely, and using a WhatsApp group which is designed for confidential private messaging between 3 people is chalk and cheese.

Ath_Wat

TELLIT01 said:

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

A whatsapp group with 3 people in it is not a social media platform.

Exodi

Ath_Wat said:

Exodi said:

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.

The difference between putting something on Facebook, which is designed for spreading information widely, and using a WhatsApp group which is designed for confidential private messaging between 3 people is chalk and cheese.

Personally, I do not disagree with what you have said.

Unfortunately, company policy may not neccesarily divide out the nuances that are obvious to us.

I'm reading my company handbook now, and under 'Networking Policy' it states employees must not:

"conduct themselves in a way that brings the Company into disrepute"
"allow their interaction to damage working relationships between employees and customers of the Company;"
"include personal information about the Company’s employees, contractors, suppliers or customers without their express consent, including where employees, contractors, suppliers or customers are not expressly named but the Company reasonably believes they are identifiable;"
"make any offensive, discriminatory or defamatory comments about the Company’s officers, employees, contractors, suppliers or customers, including where officers, employees, contractors, suppliers or customers are not expressly named but the Company reasonably believes they are identifiable;"
"make any comments about the Company’s employees that could constitute unlawful harassment or bullying;"

There are a few other mostly irrelevant points, but I think it's open enough that an employee could be argues as contravening these rules, even in a private whatsapp conversation.

StocktonFlyer

Whatsapp is definitely included in my workplace's social media policy.

Also see here: Is WhatsApp Social Media? - Dont Disappoint Me

Why is WhatsApp considered social media?

WhatsApp offers a range of social features so, if you are wondering, “is WhatsApp a social media” the answer is – Yes, it is! It is considered to be a social media platform because of some of its features like Status sharing, media sharing, and the ability to set up profile pictures and share media files in chat.

Exodi

StocktonFlyer said:

Whatsapp is definitely included in my workplace's social media policy.

Also see here: Is WhatsApp Social Media? - Dont Disappoint Me

Why is WhatsApp considered social media?

WhatsApp offers a range of social features so, if you are wondering, “is WhatsApp a social media” the answer is – Yes, it is! It is considered to be a social media platform because of some of its features like Status sharing, media sharing, and the ability to set up profile pictures and share media files in chat.

I think Ath_Wat is talking more specifically to this case.

Obviously if I joined my towns whatsapp group and told everyone that my boss is a crook, it would be hard to argue that this doesn't cause reputation damage to the business.

In a group with 2 employees (as in this case), it's probably a bit more nuanced to suggest the same.

The same principle applies with Facebook and other social media platforms - if I posted on my public timeline the boss is a crook, pretty clear cut. If I was private messaging another employee, a bit more nuanced.

However, despite the philosophical arguments or what we think, the company policy will probably make the sweeping generalisation that this is a disciplinary offence.

Ath_Wat

Exodi said:

StocktonFlyer said:

Whatsapp is definitely included in my workplace's social media policy.

Also see here: Is WhatsApp Social Media? - Dont Disappoint Me

Why is WhatsApp considered social media?

WhatsApp offers a range of social features so, if you are wondering, “is WhatsApp a social media” the answer is – Yes, it is! It is considered to be a social media platform because of some of its features like Status sharing, media sharing, and the ability to set up profile pictures and share media files in chat.

I think Ath_Wat is talking more specifically to this case.

Obviously if I joined my towns whatsapp group and told everyone that my boss is a crook, it would be hard to argue that this doesn't cause reputation damage to the business.

In a group with 2 employees (as in this case), it's probably a bit more nuanced to suggest the same.

The same principle applies with Facebook and other social media platforms - if I posted on my public timeline the boss is a crook, pretty clear cut. If I was private messaging another employee, a bit more nuanced.

However, despite the philosophical arguments or what we think, the company policy will probably make the sweeping generalisation that this is a disciplinary offence.

Oh, it probably is.  But the problem is that they misjudged the person they said it to, not the medium they used to say it.  One of the 3 people in that group has betrayed the trust of the others, just as if they recorded a conversation without their knowledge.  It would be exactly the same if they had SMS text messages or personal emails, and nobody would argue they are "social media".

Ath_Wat

Although actually, they are apparently being disciplined for "Inappropriate Comments of an Aggressive Nature in a Group Chat" -  which may not be anything to do with bad mouthing the company at all.  It sounds more like the person who has left is accusing them of some kind of bullying.

B0bbyEwing

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.

Thats fine. You can take your chances if you wish. 

I'm just saying there's only 1 guarantee - don't talk about work and you can't get in trouble for talking about work. Simple. 

There was actually another time I got put on a final warning. I commented on a guys post and made a vague comment about someone I worked with. 

What I didn't know is this person had like a charity account that was a friend with them. This charity account was a boss. They printed it off & hit me with it.

I said I named nobody. No names, no company names, no nothing. Nothing to tie me to anything. 

They didn't care & they hit me with a final warning because they knew who I was referring to. 

I said something like, like a wally I know. Not quite that but vague like that. 

Thats the full story of why I no longer take any risks at all where written word can be used against you at work. 

I just moan to my other half about it now and I can trust her not to report me to my boss. 
Though whether my boss has bugged my house or not, I wonder. 

Ath_Wat

B0bbyEwing said:

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.

Thats fine. You can take your chances if you wish. 

I'm just saying there's only 1 guarantee - don't talk about work and you can't get in trouble for talking about work. Simple. 

There was actually another time I got put on a final warning. I commented on a guys post and made a vague comment about someone I worked with. 

What I didn't know is this person had like a charity account that was a friend with them. This charity account was a boss. They printed it off & hit me with it.

I said I named nobody. No names, no company names, no nothing. Nothing to tie me to anything. 

They didn't care & they hit me with a final warning because they knew who I was referring to. 

I said something like, like a wally I know. Not quite that but vague like that. 

Thats the full story of why I no longer take any risks at all where written word can be used against you at work. 

I just moan to my other half about it now and I can trust her not to report me to my boss. 
Though whether my boss has bugged my house or not, I wonder. 

Again, you said something in a place where people you didn't know could see it.

This is a WhatsApp group with 3 members.  It's not even remotely comparable.

One of those three people has deliberately reported the Op's friend, for reasons we are not party to.  It's not a "don't say anything on social media" situation at all.