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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:
Warpdrive · 16/03/2020 19:54

I work in HR and I have had to manage breaches of social media policies.
One thing that your son should do is a) check the policy to make sure he understands if he has breached it, and b) check his social media settings. If his post was on a private page, then he could argue that his status was only intended for contacts who he knew personally, and he is confident they would understand he was joking. If his post was somewhere public, and there is any link (previous posts or comments on public posts alluding to his place of work, or co-workers) then it becomes trickier for him to argue.
Either way, the correct way of handling it is to admit what he's done, share what he has learnt from it and hope for a sympathetic response.
And hopefully he has learnt his lesson now and won't ever make a similar mistake again.
If it helps, I have managed situations where very well paid, professional, mature staff (in their 50s) have made similar unwise mistakes on social media. He isn't alone.

PhilCornwall1 · 16/03/2020 19:54

A very simple rule to stick by. Do not mention your employer in any way in any social media posts you make. You may well find they have a policy on this and it's wise to follow it.

A good lesson for him to learn early.

Bellecurves · 16/03/2020 19:59

It's a perfectly harmless comment but they could take issue and query whether he is committed to his job if he is so keen for time off. In the meeting he should emphasise that his post doesn't state what company he works for, and probably remind them how much he enjoys the job and gets on so well with everyone.

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AlexaAmbidextra · 16/03/2020 20:00

He’s demonstrated that he’s stupid and immature. I wouldn’t want to employ him.

rwalker · 16/03/2020 20:05

He need to ask them how the post refers to tesco . No links on SM sp how could it bring tesco into disreput

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/03/2020 20:06

In the grand scheme of things it's not exactly earth shattering.

I think he should go in and hear what they have to say, apologise and say that he now realises it wasn't a good thing to post but that he didn't mention them or have them as his employer so didn't think that he was breaching but he knows better now and wont make the same mistake.

MintyMabel · 16/03/2020 20:11

But he is only 18 and has a lot to learn.

What better way to learn how seriously companies take their social media policy than to understand of he does it he will be fired.

It isn’t Tesco’s job to teach him that when you get a job you read the rules and you follow them. That was your job.

heartsonacake · 16/03/2020 20:11

I don't agree. I work for a great employer and I take pride in my work - does that mean, given the choice, that I would rather be at work than having time off?

TheMemoryLingers You don’t need to agree. That’s Tesco (and most major company’s) thought process in terms of putting them into disrepute and they will act on that.

Social Media Policy is very serious and it needs to be followed by everyone. Age is no excuse.

AlexaAmbidextra · 16/03/2020 20:15

it was just a silly joke in a tense frightening situation, he's worried about his gran etc and was trying to alleviate tension in his family & friends, make them laugh etc.

So to top off his stupidity, encourage him to lie to try to slide his way out of it. You’d be far better to suggest he acts like a grown-up and takes responsibility for his actions. It’s no wonder some kids are like they are when you look at the attitude of the parents.

NoMoreDickheads · 16/03/2020 20:21

I don't see much wrong with what he wrote. At the end of the day, most people don't work for love.

Hopefully he'll just get a slap on the wrist. xx

greywalls93 · 16/03/2020 20:33

A friend used to work for Tesco, posted a huge rant about them on social media and got a slap on the wrist, following several weeks of paid time off for investigation Confused

Aridane · 16/03/2020 20:42

I’m afraid I agree with @Bluntness100

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

It was very immature of him and insensitive to boot. I’d be more concerned about that than his manager wanting to have a word. I’d also check his exact wording.

Aridane · 16/03/2020 20:52

Funny if Tesco forgive the lapse of judgment by an immature junior employee but not the wide publicising of this online by his Mother. Hopefully OO is making identifying details / eg it’s Sainsbury’s, not Tesco’s

CaptSkippy · 16/03/2020 21:15

It's not necessary for anyone to rat on him. Tesco is a chain-store, right? Large companies usually have a department checking social media posts of their employees.

It's a hard lesson to learn, but better that he learns this early on and never does it again. It's also better to keep his social media accounts private, or at least partially private.

When he applies for jobs companies usually check social media to see if a candidate doesn't ring up any red-flags for them. Having no social media presence isn't good either.

Overthinker1988 · 16/03/2020 22:09

Ffs people need to chill, he's 18, he made a daft comment online, which isn't even that bad or defamatory. It's exactly the sort of thing I'd have found amusing when I was 18. I'm so glad social media wasn't so big back then. Bet you were all perfect teenagers and never did or said anything silly?

Stormbeach · 16/03/2020 22:14

I’ve fired people for similar. He should see it as an important lesson about social media and the workplace.

strawberrylipgloss · 16/03/2020 22:44

Bet you were all perfect teenagers and never did or said anything silly?

Of course not but he's part of the adult world of work and has to follow the adult rules.
This isn't a little mistake that he can easily overcome but his mum posting about it publicly and minimizing what he did isn't helpful - especially if the company is really Tesco. 17 year olds go to war. This 18yo has probably learned his lesson and never post about work again.

MintyMabel · 16/03/2020 22:48

Bet you were all perfect teenagers and never did or said anything silly?

I did silly things. I didn’t do stupid things through ignorance, such as breaking the contract of employment I’d signed.

There’s a reason the law deems 18 year olds capable of signing a contract. They are considered to be old enough to understand the consequences of breaching it.

Ginfordinner · 16/03/2020 22:49

When I was a teenager the only means of communication were: in person face to face, landline telephone, letters and telegrams. No mobile phones or social media.

GreenTulips · 16/03/2020 22:53

Social Media Policy is very serious and it needs to be followed by everyone. Age is no excuse

OP fails to see the irony in her post

bluebell34567 · 16/03/2020 23:16

i dont see anything bad he said about Tesco.
if he is not allowed to use company name then i can understand.
i dont think it is a malicious post. just a bit like banter.
i wouldnt take it seriously. i hope he rides it out.

SylviaC · 16/03/2020 23:18

Hopefully he will learn a lesson. Hopefully he won't get sacked as in the next few months a lot of us older wiser people will be needing younger people like your son to keep the supply chain going while we self isolate.

moondance19 · 16/03/2020 23:26

The poor lad, hope he doesn’t get in trouble. When you’re 18 you’re just finding your way in the world. Ridiculous to take this serious.

beebyjeeby · 16/03/2020 23:50

this is the trouble with social media. The best thing to do before you post or tweet anything is ask yourself:

a) do I want my employer or future employer to see this
b) if I became famous & the daily mail trawled through my history is there any thing compromising
c) if i was involved in a crime are these the photos I want the daily mail
to print.

Easier to just not post!

CorianderLord · 17/03/2020 01:19

Idiot. I'm 24 - were told all through school not to have colleagues on SM for this exact reason. I've made these jokes (through messenger) but he should know not to do this. Or to make his page entirely private.

It basically means if he does get sick they'll think he's lying.

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