To think you just can't say this as a public sector worker? Sorry, FB related.

[Famzilla]

Someone I have known for many years posted a horrid status on Facebook earlier, I won't repeat it word for word but the basic jist was that he was glad that a local MH charity was closing due to lack of funding and that suicidal people should just be left to kill themselves.. But not in public because that ruins everyone's day.

Obviously this turned into a bit of a bunfight and as an RMN it offended me greatly. I also work in the same hospital as him, he doesn't have a registration for his role but he still works for the NHS. He is arrogantly refusing to remove the status saying that he won't get into trouble with his employer because of free speech blah blah. Is this right? Can public service workers really say stuff like this publicly?

Please don't flame me if you think I should mind my own business or whatever, having suffered my own MH problems as a teen and I've read some stuff from people I considered friends which has really disturbed me today and I can't help but feel it shouldn't be allowed.

He can be prosecuted for that. it's a new law that saying "people should kill themselves" or telling someone to kill themselves is illegal. Print it off with the URL and send it to the authorities. What a dick. yanbu. I also have MH issues (depression) and seeing things like this stick in my head and make my brain hurt. They literally make me so upset.

Does his FB identify him as an employee of the NHS? If so, I'd report him. If not - well, it's his private life.

it's a new law that saying "people should kill themselves" or telling someone to kill themselves is illegal

Really? Which law is that?

To make it clearer OP, I am not condoning what he did. Its simply that as an NHS employee yourself, I would hope (and I'm sure that you are) interested in helping people and making their lives better, and that you can appreciate that people make mistakes. I think this obsession with what people write on social media can go a bit far.

Are you sure its just not dark humour? I've heard the same jokes at a comedy club

No of course it isn't dark humour, it's someone being a total and utter cunt. There is no humour in suicide ever. I say this as someone who lost their BIL to suicide. It's horrific, the implications are awful and it never goes away.

Screenshot and report. I mean it's one thing to think this ridiculous thought but to actually say it out loud of put it on the www - seriously awful. Report, delete and block, know you did your bit and move on.

I get that this is really offensive - just like I find lots of other things I see on the internet offensive - but getting someone sacked for posting something on FB seems over the top. I know it's his actions that would result in a dismissal (rather than yours iyswim) but it seems like a very full on lesson.

But it's not just what he posted on FB is it - what he posts obviously reflects his views - and disgusting views at that.

Is there any evidence that he brings these views into the workplace, doesn't perform his job properly as a result of his prejudice or acts in a discriminatory way at work? Does he even work directly with people with mental illness?

De-friend him if you must. But given that he is writing (admittedly horrible things) in a private capacity, printing off screengrabs and presenting them to his line manager/HR smacks of 'running to tell teacher.'

And what's wrong with running to tell teacher?

I would report him. Views like that have no place in this day and age.

I agree his views are unpleasant and I don't like them one bit. But in the absence of any evidence of him acting in a discriminatory manner in work or it directly impinging on his work role then, actively seeking to get him in trouble is petty.

Something's you really can't just say sorry for.

He is being totally unprofessional and given the field he works in (regardless of what his role is) he is very very stupid for putting offensive views like that on a site. It is not totally private unless he has done his setting rigidly which somehow I doubt he has. His views show a distinct lack of integrity and intelligence to be honest and if he is prepared to share his POV on a place when he doesn't know exactly with whom he is sharing them - well, he deserves to be pulled up on that.

It's not a case of just telling teacher, it's a case of being totally and utterly dispicable.

I work in a hospital and I know people have got into trouble with the HR dept over things they have put on FB.