Social media - is my employer really allowed to do this?

[Cydonia]

I’ve got myself into trouble at work for commenting on a Facebook post which was then shown to management who took a dim view of my comments. Personally I don’t really see the problem, they were only very mildly critical of the company and it wasn’t obvious that I worked for them. Anyway, I have to have a meeting to discuss my breach of the social media policy. I’ve never seen this, so thought I’d better familiarise myself.
I was a bit shocked to find this -
“ The organisation reserves the right to monitor employees’ internet usage, but will endeavour to inform an employee when this is to happen and the reasons for it. “ It goes on to say what they consider valid reasons for this, and then that they reserve the right to retain any information for a period of one year?
Can they honestly do this?! Bearing in mind I wasn’t using a work computer, or even at work at the time. Just seems very controlling.

[justforthisnow]

The "everyone else was doing it" defense is not going to work here for you. Own your mistake, and it was a mistake, don't do it again and move on. Precisely what I would say to my own staff. If it wasnt malicous or defamatory then this will die a death, noone will remember next year.
Ps delete the comment!

[gamerchick]

We got the pretty hefty message about SM about the company. Anything negative would be seen as gross misconduct or some tripe and we could be sacked.

It didn't endear me to that company tbh as I'd rather a company strive to be good, decent employers rather than threaten you with the sack if you speak out against their bollocks.

But there it is.

I don't even mention my employer on SM, it's easier that way.

[Yabbers]

Yeah - what’s the world coming to that you can’t slag off your company on social media 🙄

[burritofan]

Common sense, surely? Don't bite the hand that pays you.

[Cydonia]

I didn’t ‘slag them off!’

[itsnotso]

I'm afraid they most certainly can do that. I work in governance, and the best advice I can give my team is say nothing. I'd even go as far to say don't put your employer on your personal info section on Facebook - why does anyone need to know where you work?

I had to discipline a colleague who had posted a picture of a glass of wine. His profile was public. He was an alcohol support worker, and one of his clients thought it was rubbing salt in the wounds and made a formal complaint. Would have never happened had his profile been private, as the client wasn't "friends" with him. I disciplined on the grounds of professional misconduct, and whilst my colleague was deeply upset, they understood the companies stance.

If the policy is on the intranet, you won't have a leg to stand on by saying you haven't read it. You'll just have to suck it up unfortunately and hopefully you'll just get a warning.

[cherryblossomgin]

My work is the same, you can't mention the company or the work you do. If you are caught doing this you face disciplinary action, it could be.in your contract or employee handbook.

[hmwhatsmynameagain]

Standard company SM Policy, do not comment on anything to do with your employing company unless it is to like and/or give positive comments to your official company profile.
If you have a problem raise it though proper grievance policy, aka don't air your dirty laundry in public, something some people need to learn about their personal issues too

[NameChanger22]

I've stopped saying anything on Facebook. I only comment online when I can be anonymous.

What is the world coming to? Exactly.

We are all under control.

[Cydonia]

My profile is private and does not state where I work. I wasn’t going to argue, I just thought it was an intrusive policy, but I accept I am in the wrong.

[ReanimatedSGB]

What people should do is: have two sets of social media accounts. Have one in your legal name and keep it absolutely bland - family pics, funny cat videos and the occasional bout of Thoughts and Prayers.

Then have another one, in a name that is not quite your legal name, or (for Twitter) a nickname or pseudonym. Use the second one for airing your opinions, and interacting with your actual mates outside work. I do not approve of employers feeling entitled to look at staff social media, so it's important to minimise their opportunity to do so.

[Userplusnumbers]

The general rule of thumb is if you wouldn't say it to your employers face dont say it on social media.

Disagree, there's plenty of things you would say to your employer but not on social media, it's more like if you wouldn't stand outside the office in the street telling random strangers, don't post it on social media.

[LovingLola]

The policies are all on an intranet thing so they would probably just say they are available for everyone to read.

That solves that one then. The policy is there but you didn’t bother to read it.

[Jenny17]

Not having seen the policy shouldn't make a difference in this case imo. It should be fairly obvious not to criticise your employer slight or not on SM. If you are using company computer on compsny time via company WiFi/internet it makes sense that they are miffed.

Hope it goes well for you.

[Sophisticatedsarcasm]

I work in customer service although I’ve never meantioned or ridiculed the company I work for I am posting customer service memes on a daily basis. I have my manager on my fb (we were friends before he became manager) and he even likes some of them. Me and my colleagues constantly tagging each other in. I think you just need to be careful as to the context. People get bent out of shape over anything nowadays. You must have a brown noser on your friends list. Someone did this to a colleague of mine when she announced she was starting a new journey and it got back to my manager and someone took a picture and sent it to him, they forgot to change the language so she knew who it was straight away.

[ReanimatedSGB]

Actually, if you work in a 'sensitive' area, tell your employer you don't use social media and set up all your accounts in a false name. Again, anything you do outside your contracted hours and contracted tasks is not your employer's business.

[sagradafamiliar]

Yes, colleges and universities do it as well. By attending or being in employment at your workplace, you're bound by their policies so not signing anything in a specific contract won't make any difference.

[thedisorganisedmum]

I honestly don't know many people who use their real name on social media nowadays. They keep a "public" profile to make it less obvious.

It doesn't stop you getting in trouble if you start adding colleagues to your social media and someone reports a post from you! It's pretty obvious that "Pumpkin Pie" is still Susan Llama when "Pumpkin Pie" publish photos of Susan L''s kids, weddings and selfies.

[Cydonia]

It was at home, at a weekend, my phone, my internet.

[justasking111]

I cannot even have a moan when annoyed about something the council does/doesn`t do when friends have a grumble because of my sons line of work. It would affect him so I tend to keep schtum, even sharing stuff is something I tend not to do. It is a ripple effect.

If you are applying for a tenancy landlords search you out as well.

[thedisorganisedmum]

anything you do outside your contracted hours and contracted tasks is not your employer's business.

that's your opinion, but that's completely untrue!

[ReanimatedSGB]

I'd quite like to see a few test cases as the right to privacy is a human right. (Yes, OK, if you commit a crime outside working hours, you might get sacked but things like: airing your opinions on social media, having an unconventional sex life, going on a demo etc should not be your employer's business.)

[JemSynergy]

My rule on facebook is to never ever post a comment/reply on any post that has an earth next to it as that means it is public and therefore, will be seen by everyone including those on my friends list! All of my social media including youtube account/comments is securely locked down.

[AfterSchoolWorry]

I can't believe you're surprised!

[sagradafamiliar]

I agree reanimated but that's not the case. A Facebook profile doesn't fall into the 'personal life' category as it belongs to FB, not the user. OP should be prepared to have the printed off screenshots handed to her and asked for an explanation unfortunately I've seen this happen before.