News1 min ago
Do I have to answer to my employers about comments I made on Facebook concerning the company I work for.
I have made a few disparaging comments on facebook about the home I work in, I havent named the company that I work for or the name of the Home or any person. A few other staff have also made similar comments.
Today the Manager called in one of the staff members concerned and she was questioned about these comments and was made to make a statement.
The comments were made whilst off duty and on our own personal PC's.
Are we bound to answer any of these questions in this investigation about what was said on Facebook.
What is our legal position with all this, I will be leaving this employ as soon as I find another job.
Today the Manager called in one of the staff members concerned and she was questioned about these comments and was made to make a statement.
The comments were made whilst off duty and on our own personal PC's.
Are we bound to answer any of these questions in this investigation about what was said on Facebook.
What is our legal position with all this, I will be leaving this employ as soon as I find another job.
Answers
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No best answer has yet been selected by RATTER15. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.i'd also remind them that you can sue for unfair dismissal/constructive dismissal etc if they try to bully you. as you have not mentioned names, you have not broken confidentiality, nor brought the company into disrepute. i'd be interested to know what they reckon they can get away with....after all, anonymous comments in your private life. oh, and tell them to get stuffed until you can get a union rep to go with you. good luck - i'll be thinking of you x
If you have to make a statement, Ratter, first check your contract as to what they have written, if anything, about confidentiality. If that is clear:
"I have made comments of Facebook about working in a home. I did this in my own time, on my own PC and have never mentioned the location and/or employees with whom I worked. I believe my comments to be an accurate reflection of what I have seen and heard and would welcome an inquiry, held by an independent auditor appointed by the directors of the Company to verify what I have seen and make proposals for the change of care and performance to the benefit of all, care clients, staff, management and shareholders.
Having read my contract and taken counsel as to my right of such expression, I believe that I am fully in my rights and any action deemed to undermine confidence in my employment with the Company may necessitate appropriate counsel with my lawyers."
Modify the text according to the confidentiality clause and if you have the contract with you, it would be useful for you to let us "see" that.....
"I have made comments of Facebook about working in a home. I did this in my own time, on my own PC and have never mentioned the location and/or employees with whom I worked. I believe my comments to be an accurate reflection of what I have seen and heard and would welcome an inquiry, held by an independent auditor appointed by the directors of the Company to verify what I have seen and make proposals for the change of care and performance to the benefit of all, care clients, staff, management and shareholders.
Having read my contract and taken counsel as to my right of such expression, I believe that I am fully in my rights and any action deemed to undermine confidence in my employment with the Company may necessitate appropriate counsel with my lawyers."
Modify the text according to the confidentiality clause and if you have the contract with you, it would be useful for you to let us "see" that.....
I assume your friends and relatives know who you work for though - those able to read your facebook page.
Negative comments about other staff may be seen as bullying.
Really bringing your company into disrepute on FaceBook is never a good idea.
No company name here:
http://www.dailymail....tally-boring-job.html
Sacked
http://www.telegraph....acebook-comments.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...gland-london-13889845
Negative comments about other staff may be seen as bullying.
Really bringing your company into disrepute on FaceBook is never a good idea.
No company name here:
http://www.dailymail....tally-boring-job.html
Sacked
http://www.telegraph....acebook-comments.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...gland-london-13889845
I would refuse to answer anything - it is private end of, you havent slandered anyone if you havent names names...they have to prove you wrote these 'comments' too, you could have had your FB hacked for example...deny everything...admit nothing. If they do question you just act dumb and answer 'no comment' ...
Ratter, yes you are accountable for comments made on FB in your own time. One of my colleagues (not one I work with, but elsewhere in my organisation) made some comments (in her own time and from her home computer) about her employment and the quality of work she was facing her job, and the pay - she was severely reprimanded as "bringing the organisation into disrepute". She too didn't name names, but she was well known enough that everyone who saw her FB page knew exactly what she meant.
You can seek independent advice from ACAS, if you Google ACAS helpline they are indeed impartial and helpful.
You can seek independent advice from ACAS, if you Google ACAS helpline they are indeed impartial and helpful.
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