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. 😭

@Hoggleludo

I told her word for word what I said. She said that I had obviously hit a nerve with them and that I should just ignore them... And update my profile settings.

I am confused. If they have a social media policy, how did it not occur to you (when you read it) to take your employer off?

You previous post said it never occurred to you, but it must have done when you read the policy?

I did the same, some bloke on fb marketplace. Hand gel for £10. I just commented "greedy twat" and he pmd me "are you the sad cunt" so I replied "if you mean am I the sad cunt who doesn't exploit vulnerable people yes I am and by the way your punctuation needs some work. Sorry not sorry.

This is why you shouldn't have employer as part of profile of you do.

Mine says works at: then a comment regards working but nothing to do with my employer.

I doubt you can lose your job for comments but if you've brought your employer into disrepute dependent on polices there can be action taken.

@GilchristQ

I haven't looked at my profile since the day I put it on there. Years and years ago. It's never been updated as I've never needed to update it. I didn't even remember it was on there until they mentioned it and had an "oh shit" moment.

I haven't looked at my profile since the day I put it on there
I can understand that.

I suppose I dont understand why when you read the social media policy you didnt lock down and double check your settings and what you were letting people see.

You’ll probably face a formal disciplinary.

I had someone threaten to do the same to me when I challenged racist behaviour on Facebook once. Exactly same, comments about screenshots etc. To cut a long story short they didn't report me and nothing happened.

To cut a long story short they didn't report me and nothing happened.
I do think this is more likely than any situation to be fair.

Well then

Why are you worrying?!?

I would be severely warned or disciplined at work for this. It is written in pur contracts that we must not do anything that reflects on the company's reputation. I go by the rule that if I wouldn't say it to our CEO don't put it on social media.

Why are you worrying?!?

What do you mean? Op clearly thinks it will happen.

@Hoggleludo

Because its me. I'm on medication for anxiety as a norm, but with everything going on, and now this, I am just a puddle of anxious mess at the moment!!

I work in HR unless you were posting with reference to your employer we wouldn’t give a second thought about it other than to recommend that maybe you don’t give people any further ammunition and you shut down your security settings which you have done already

Well if your own boss said not too worry. Take her at her word. Trust in her.

It sounds like your boss is on your side. Honestly people have better things to do than to deal with this crap right now. Hopefully nothing will be done.

As previously said, if the complaint comes in, not via pps manager, that may be where a problem arises.

Not local council wants it staff caught up in a corona focused spat on facebook.

Op, should you be drinking on your medication? It's not recommended on mine.

@GilchristQ

I am not to drink excessively on them. Which I hadn't. It was just one of those ones where one night you could drink 10 pints and be fine, but drink 2 and be a bit tipsy. 🤷‍♀️

Dont drink and social media

I think their employers might be interested in hearing they are contributing to panic buying.

@Reginabambina absolutely 🤦‍♀️

I am not to drink excessively on them. Which I hadn't. It was just one of those ones where one night you could drink 10 pints and be fine, but drink 2 and be a bit tipsy

We all have those.

You may find it impacts you more on meds, so might be worth keeping an eye on.

I didnt mean to suggest you drink excessively, just that it can have a bigger impact when on medication.

By definition, bullying is when an action is done repeatedly, which didn’t happen in this case.

That would depend.

Was it one comment, or did op keep repeating the same thing over and over?

It was the initial comment and 2 or 3 follow ups apologising for my language but that I stood by the fact that the person was advertising a product at a hugely inflated price when I have family who have immunosuppressant illnesses and have been unable to purchase such items due to them being sold out everywhere.