Threatened with being reported to my work

[Gemm83]

Last night after a couple of drinks I was on FB and noticed someone on a selling page selling small hand sanitisers. One for £5 and five for £20. This past week I have been a mess. Anxiety through the roof and I just lost it. I called the seller all manner of names (even the bad one). Whilst almost everyone agreed with me (but not with the language) there were a couple who called me a bully and a troll. I apologised for my language but repeated that I would not apologise for calling someone out on trying to make a profit out of people's anxiety and panic.

My own fault but my profile is public as is what I do for a living. I am admin in local government authority. Two people went on and mentioned who I work for and that all my comments had been screenshotted and will be sent off to my employer to demonstrate how unprofessional I am and that I'm bringing my employer into disrepute. I text my boss straight away and told her. But I'm now having panic attacks. I can't lose my job. I was just so angry and had a momentary lapse of control. I am so upset. Crying uncontrollably. What can I do/should I do? I'm currently on mat leave and due to return in April. 😭

Unless you was using a work account to post the messages I doubt very much your employer will care; you weren’t acting in a professional capacity and so how on earth would your private comments bring your employer into disrepute ......

I’d also lock down the privacy on your Facebook page so in future people you don’t know can’t look through all your details

Honestly don’t worry , this will blow over

Well tighten up your security settings for a start. Theres no excuse in this day and age.

Hopefully your boss will see that the circumstances are somewhat exceptional at present. What you say online is your own concern, but I can imagine they wont be best pleased if you are (for some inexplicable reason) publicising your place of employment.

I doubt you will lose your job over one incident - I think they very worst likely outcome is some kind of warning. I know it’s easy to say and hard to do, but try not to worry about this - you’ve done the right thing by trying to get ahead of it, and ultimately it’s going to be ok.

Next time, follow the 24 hour rule - when you see something that upsets you, wait 24 hours before putting your name to any response! It always helps me in hot-headed situations.

Absolutely. Sort your settings out. If even only for online security!!!

Is £4 for a hand sanitizer that bad?

You’re not going to lose your job for calling someone a cunt for profiting from selling hand sanitiser in this kind of pandemic crisis. The person is actually a cunt and swearing isn’t a crime! And what you did doesn’t meet the definition of trolling or bullying. So relax.

Check your employer's social media policy. Formal disciplinary action would most likely be taken in this case by my company- but we have a v v clear policy on what is acceptable and what is not and the employer is very much in the public eye.

@Shylo

I have removed all and re set my privacy settings so no one can see me unless friends. Stupid really.

Thankyou all. I was just so angry!!! Lesson well and truly learned. Just got to get a grip 😔

I would be on a disciplinary for this at work. I hope that nothing comes of it for you.

Tbh I think you’re an idiot, it’s up to your employer to decide if you have brought them into disrepute.

You can disagree but to be abusive and bully individual because you disagree with them is simply unacceptable, your only feeling bad now because your actions have consequences, maybe you will learn that while you're being a keyboard warrior typing horrible words on a screen that there are people behind the computer!

You have absolutely no idea of there personal circumstances for you to abuse them.

I doubt you’ll lose your job, you may well get a telling off

*You’re, their

This would definitely be a disciplinary case in my company. Probably wouldn’t result in you being sacked, though. We get constant reminders about social media use.

Why do you have your place of work on your facebook and why on earth is it public?

You've done all you can, lock your Facebook down.

You won't lose your job over this. However, for God's sake sort your privacy settings out, why would you have a public profile with your workplace etc on it? It's standard practice these days to 'report someone to their employer' if they so much as express an opinion you don't agree with...

Thankyou all for your input. I feel completely stupid. Trust me, all my privacy settings are sorted now. I've been on FB since it started, it's just never ever crossed my mind.

I very much doubt that your employer will discipline you for calling out behaviour that the CMA has specifically said won't be tolerated.

See www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-statement-on-sales-and-pricing-practices-during-coronavirus-outbreak and show it to your boss.

You have absolutely no idea of there personal circumstances for you to abuse them

Don't care if someone is trying to profiteer.

Two people went on and mentioned who I work for and that all my comments had been screenshotted and will be sent off to my employer to demonstrate how unprofessional I am and that I'm bringing my employer into disrepute

They probably won't by the way, and your employer will be too busy with other stuff to care!

But as others have said, sort out your privacy settings.

Ouch, glad you've tightened up your security settings now. I'm sure it'll be fine and they won't manage to send then anyway.

No need to call her an idiot. It's not nice that they were trying to profit in this way, just take it as a lesson and ensure privacy settings are in place now. We all get angry in the moment.

This would be a disciplinary where I work - they have associated you with your employer and so it’s against the social media policy.
But it’s unlikely you’d be sacked for it.