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Original poster

DS in trouble at work

166 replies

Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 17:36

Hi

Just want advice.

My son is 18 and I just wanted to ask for other people’s advice regarding a silly incident.

He works in Tesco part time at the weekend. Recently, he posted something on his Facebook, it was something like “would be great if Tesco would close because of coronavirus so I can have some time off”

DS does not have his manager on his Facebook, so somebody on his has obviously told him. His manager rang him and asked him if he could come in sometime this week to speak to him regarding his social media content.

I just think this is shockingly ridiculous. What exactly has DS said that is so wrong? He obviously didn’t mean anything bad by what he wrote. Surely this is an overreaction?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:08

@WorraLiberty are you getting me mixed up with another post I’ve seen on here recently by some other member of MN? I think her son works in Argos?

OP posts:
SoloMummy · 16/03/2020 18:10

I'm afraid that I have sacked staff for similar.
You may see that as draconian but its reality of calling the organisation into disrepute, directly or indirectly. Social media is awful for this.

itsallthedramaMickiloveit · 16/03/2020 18:13

Simple rule. Keep your work out off Facebook full stop. Especially if you're very replaceable.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
leghairdontcare · 16/03/2020 18:14

I hope he takes this seriously, grows up and learns some professionalism.

I hate how social media has made people think they can say whatever they want without consequence.

Saladd0dger · 16/03/2020 18:14

Tesco have zero tolerance on social media. It’s made really clear at the induction

Lynda07 · 16/03/2020 18:17

I'm sure your son won't be in trouble, the manager knows he is only 18, however it does illustrate how facebook can cause trouble. I think it's a great shame that so many share all on there. I also don't think much of whoever grassed him up but that's another story.

Bluntness100 · 16/03/2020 18:18

Well he might just be about to get his wish op, he may indeed get some time off.

WorraLiberty · 16/03/2020 18:19

Ahh yes, apologies OP Blush

If he didn't mention Tesco, I can't really see why they'd have a go at him.

Hopefully it'll be just a slap on the wrist.

Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:20

He works in health and beauty within Tesco. Him and his manager get on really well.

  1. He does not have Tesco listed on his profile as his occupation.
  1. He didn’t mention Tesco in this post nor has he ever written anything about his work on it before
OP posts:
notimagain · 16/03/2020 18:20

Has he read his employment contract? Normally you can’t say anything negative about your company on social media.

Agreed, breaching social media policy is the biggest cause of "employee attrition" in the under 25s at one large company I know of.

Jaxhog · 16/03/2020 18:21

Hopefully, he'll just get a dressing down (that's what I'd do if I was his Manager). Which he deserves.

I hope he's now deleted it?

percheron67 · 16/03/2020 18:21

My goodness he needs to grow up fast. This is the sort of rubbish I would expect from a 12 year old. Absolutely no concern for anyone other than himself. Dreadful thing to say.

itsallthedramaMickiloveit · 16/03/2020 18:22

He said my work they are his employers. It's really not hard to understand.

PhoneTwattery · 16/03/2020 18:23

Your son is an idiot. Good life lesson learned though.

Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:23

@itsallthedramaMickiloveit yeah but “my work” could mean literally any company.

If he doesn’t have any links to Tesco on his social media then surely he can post as he likes as long as he doesn’t mention their name.

OP posts:
Miraclelover · 16/03/2020 18:23

we both know he wasn’t laughing at coronavirus itself
I think everyone one on here knows he was
would be great if Tesco would close because of coronavirus so I can have some time off
Now i know you say he didn’t mention tesco but to be wishing his work could close so he can get time off is laughing at it.

Stop making excuses for him and teach him what he did was wrong and he can apologise then he may have a chance at keeping his job.

itsallthedramaMickiloveit · 16/03/2020 18:24

@Whenisithometime So he has more than one employer?

Not that it matters. He broke their policy. He can profusely apologise. Has he deleted the post?

Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:26

@Miraclelover he is naive, he doesn’t think things through and this is a good life lesson to be so careful what he posts on social media.

I just think that as he’s 18, this is his first job, that he should be shown leniency. I just think he thought he was having a laugh.

@Miracelover no he wasn’t laughing at coronavirus. He said himself it’s terrifying.

OP posts:
wastedyearsandtears · 16/03/2020 18:28

How immature - oh yeah he is 18. Don’t worry. Storm in a teacup. Lighten up people. Teenager does a daft thing. Harming no one. Hold the front page😳

Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:28

@isallthedramaMickiloveit no he only has one employer.

What I’m saying is that since he has no links to his employment on his social media, it shouldn’t have mattered as he didn’t state the company name and it isn’t in his profile where he works.

Yes he deleted the post as soon as his and Deleted his Facebook as soon as his manager contacted him

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 16/03/2020 18:28

If he doesn’t have any links to Tesco on his social media then surely he can post as he likes as long as he doesn’t mention their name.

But if everyone on his friends list knows he works for Tesco he is skating on thin ice here. I think you and your son are being very naive and ingenuous here.

Littlemeadow123 · 16/03/2020 18:34

Your son essentially wished that the corona virus outbreak will get worse so that the shops can close and he can get time off. That is insensitive given the fact that people have DIED of the virus and he is there willing it to get worse. I bet the people who are currently seriously ill with corona/the relatives of people who have died wish that their biggest problem was needing to a do shifts in Tescos.

CappyCapCap · 16/03/2020 18:34

So the joke was 'I hope this gets a lot worst and my employer decided to make life harder for everyone, especially vulnerable people harder.....so I can have a weekend off'.

It's all well and good saying he is only 18
But employment rules apply to everyone. Not different rules for under 25s.

If he is mature enough for social media and a job, he is mature enough to know how to behave.

Original poster
Whenisithometime · 16/03/2020 18:35

@Littlemeadow123 yeah it was careless. But he is only 18 and has a lot to learn. He doesn’t have enough life experience yet.

OP posts:
BingPot99 · 16/03/2020 18:36

Surely it's also an issue of trust. If he wants the shop to close so he gets 'free' time off, there would be an element of doubt in their minds if he calls in tomorrow to say he has to self isolate for 2 weeks. That may be wrong and he may be honest but they need reliable trustworthy staff.

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