using work computer for social media - disciplinary/dismissal?

[redrosette]

Okay, I know I'm an idiot but I've been using my work's computer for social media daily, mainly because I'm not being given enough work really.

I asked for more work and I've been given it so I use the computers less now for personal use now and I never talk about work.

However, someone I dont like, whos been threatening my family etc and causing me huge stress, has now phoned my boss anonymously to complain that I'm misusing my work's computers. Now my boss is conducting an investigation.

I know I'm an idiot and believe me there will be absolutely no more misuse of company computers but what can I do? My union rep is useless, I have been bullied in work for several months and she hasn't helped re: that.

Furthermore, I have been on anti depressants, suicidal, ill health etc mainly because of the individual outside of work and people within work, and all of it has affected my work in that I'm not interested in my work anymore, my attendance, timekeeping etc hasn't been great of late as I'm so stressed out.

I'm really worried that I will lose my job. I'm such an idiot, but to lose my job on top of everything else that is going on, would be too much for me.

I had a look at my work's disciplinary policy and it goes verbal warning, 2 written warnings, then 4th stage is gross misconduct, although gross misconduct can be taken straight away.

I've worked there for 8 years and my record has been clean until now.

Please someone advise me.

Gosh what a mess and worry for you! At my work it is a serious disciplinary offence but then it is quite clear to employees that they must not use it. The question is does your employer have similar clear guidelines? If not then you could be disciplined but more for time wasting.

I think if you know you are going to be caught it is better to be up front and apologise, explain the reasons why you've been surfing the net i.e. don't have enough to do and have asked again and again. But you do need union support to do this especially if you think they are going to use this as an excuse to remove you due to your other performance issues.

They'd need some proof, to do anything really serious, surely?

did you sign something saying you shouldn't do this?

our works pcs block loads of sites, surely yours should do this if they object?

I haven't signed anything.

We do have an internet policy but its a bit 'grey', it says reasonable use during breaks is allowed and I do go on during breaks and sometimes outwith breaks. I dont go on inappropriate sites, I dont criticise my employers anywhere.

They are going to get a report from IT apparently and it will not be good tbh

I'm praying for just a formal warning as I have had nothing on my record for the last 8 years but will that matter?

oh and my colleagues are on the internet all the time too. I have been under enormous stress for the past few months due to family illness and due to bullying in work. I have had to go to a doctor about this and i am getting counselling. I dont know if they will care about any of that. It has affected my attitude to work in that I guess I go onto the internet as a stress reliever.

What have you done about the bullying? Have you reported this?

Personally, I wouldn't come down too hard on someone for this if they were otherwise doing a good job, had a good output etc. Just a warning, really, though I'd be much tougher if it kept on happening.

If there were other issues, though, I wouldn't be so lenient - especially if I felt that the person wasn't productive. The fact that you asked for more work is in your favour, I'd say. Did you ask just once or more frequently? And do you have evidence of this?

I asked frequently and verbally so no real evidence although recently my line manager has given me more work (finally). She is also dealing with the bullying.

Well if the policy says in breaks only and you've been doing it in work time then it's pretty clear you've breached the policy. Does the policy say anything about breaches might result in disciplinary action?

You say the report from IT 'won't be good' - how much time are we talking? If you are confident that an IT report on (for example) the department in general would yield similar results for everyone, then you could ask them to do that. The fact that you haven't visited any dodgy/specifically prohibited sites and have not mentioned/criticised work will help you.

I agree with flowery. If you know the whole dept is doing it then ask for a report for the whole dept. It doesn't mean you won't be disciplined but it will put you in context of a wider culture. Reading between the lines though it sounds as if you have work issues in a number of areas.

Misuse of company property is normally a verbal warning. Dismissal is for v serious things: fighting, theft etc. Not for surfing facebook.

Seperately, I see you mention you have felt suicidal - are you getting counselling over and above the anti depressants?

In our co we are not allowed to use social networking sites at all when at work : it is dismissal and in fact they have this rule for our protection We are only supposed to use it during breaks but loads of people go into it all the time so you could argue this. I would be upfront , that you have been having personal probs but hpefully this is just a blip. Say you have learned a lesson and agree to any suggestions they have re you will not do it again Maybe if you hold up your hands and say sorry , you might get away with just a verbal Think about it

spoke with my union rep today who will support me. she feels given the circumstances, I will probably get a warning and she will push the fact I'm under stress and in fact require support rather than dismissal etc. I feel a little better.

Have you had specific training/information about the policy in place, or is it just on your intranet for reference? In my place of work, the TU were able to get people off on the basis that this was not in place. Now, we have a popup appear everytime we log in, referring us to the policy and which you have to click agreement to to use any application.

thats a good idea, I will keep that in mind

barkiswilling - its just on the intranet for reference and no one bothers to check it because there are so many policies and its long and boring to go through them all. my manager has been constantly reminding people to read the policies but it hasn't happened

no word from work yet :(