Worried about getting in trouble at work!

[lilcreed]

I work in education and was working on a word document one evening at work (bored). I don’t know what possessed me to be honest but I wrote the C word on the word document and then deleted it. Not sure why I did it !!

This week in the staff room a poster was put up with a word cloud of in appropriate words that staff have looked up or typed. I don’t feel terrible as there was some other ones which were not me - for example orgasm, hard on, porn etc. But I still feel really embarrassed even though this was anonymous.

No one has mentioned anything other than laughed at the word cloud in the staff room but I know one teacher has access to seeing who searched or typed in what! I saw this teacher today and he didn’t mention anything!

Just a stupid, unexplainable moment but feel worried that I might get in trouble !!!

I understand If most of you who read this don’t understand why - I don’t either but I’m sure we all get moments like this!

Do you think I’m worrying for nothing? Thanks and please be kind! X

[lilcreed]

GDPR

[lilcreed]

Thank you so much all. You have helped to put my mind at rest as I was so nervous about going in on Monday.

If they do ask I will say it was a typo and question my name being up on the list as GFPR. We also have lettings in school (dance clubs etc) that use the staff room - so I certainly don’t want my name for all to see.

[noideaatallreally]

If you are PSE lead then surely you will always be in the top ten? How on earth do they filter out words you legit use. I would not give this a seconds more thought. And inventing excuses is just drawing attention to it!!! If anyone asks you - and why would they - of course you are typing 'naughty' words - its part of your job!

[PineappleDanish]

I write for a living and my brain works quicker than my typing fingers. I will often re-read through a document and realise that I've missed out the O in "count" or the L in "clock".

Just as well there is nobody keylogging me! Is that standard in education?

[Splodgetastic]

If I discovered that my private sector employer had installed a keystroke logger I would certainly leave my workplace. I think it’s only acceptable for national security type reasons when you have to accept that even your private life and thoughts are matters of relevance. For safeguarding in schools can this not be achieved by slightly more proportionate means?

[novacaneforthepain]

I think I'd be far more embarrassed about writing "hard on" or "porn" And if I saw the cloud I would focus on who the hell is writing that in relation to teaching rather that the C word

[itsabitofamess]

Bloody hell. What a scary world we live in.

[Splodgetastic]

I hate keystroke loggers. I think they are only really necessary in certain environments. Bloody thought police!

[TheSlipperSchlepp]

Wait, so management run the software on staff computers, put a poster up of 'offending' words AND puts a poster up of 'offenders' in rank order???

I'm struggling to find the words to describe this madness. I work in a school and am sick to death of constant micro management and Big Brother atmosphere.

I'd be spending any spare time typing 'youcuntingcockwomble' and copying and pasting full documents of it. Does this software register the 'offending' words if they are part of a longer word?

[Dylaninthemovies1]

The fact that the top offenders is on a list on the staff room is worrying and probably breaches GDPR. I’d honestly have a word with your HR dept about this

[Lindy2]

YoureAllABunchOfBastards I would too! 😂

I reckon there will be loads more words listed next time as everyone competes to get a word up there.

What an utterly bizarre management approach. Surely schools have better things to do, such as teach the children, for example.

OP if questioned just go with the typo theory. It's actually perfectly plausible.
Unless of course you decide you want to tell them you wrote it because that's what you think of them.

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

I would be typing loads of rude words in just to be top of the leaderboard, by the way

[Onesailwait]

you're really over thinking this. Don't say antlything, don't take the poster down just try not to write cunt on the schools computer. It sounds really weird how the hell can they tell what words were written on a deleted document. Sounds like this guy has way to much time on his hands.

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

We have this for kids. One case was brought up at Leadership Team - a kid had typed cunt. Except he was dyslexic, and trying to spell country. It took the evidence the second he wrote the four offending letters.

[geordiema77]

What about having to do research about Scunthorpe? Or maybe swanky hotels?
Or bottles of Cockburn port?
Will they get you on the naughty list?

[Lyricallie]

I literally wouldn't say anything and if anyone brought it up just laugh and be like "oh what ha must have been a typo - how awkward" and breezily move on.

[seven201]

When about to be observed I noticed just in time that one of my slides said in massive letters "re-design the cock for..."

[seven201]

This reminds me when I had a year 7 student in my class crying her eyes out. Turns out in the previous lesson someone had dared her to type dildo (she didn't know what it is) and she did. Then she had convinced herself that she was about to be expelled at any minute .

[confusedrn]

I mistype that word all the time when writing the word count - it could happen to anyone at any time! Honestly don't sweat it.

[PanicAndRun]

I'd just have a chat with the head and explain I feel it's intrusive ,unprofessional and breaking privacy to have the names published. It creates a toxic atmosphere and gossip,especially with the ranking and ambiguity about who used what. If the computers are not used appropriately or there are searches that are causing concern, then the people involved should be talked to on a one to one basis. Not leave everyone wondering if Janet in y4 is searching porn during Golden Time or that Mike in y6 is wondering what to do with his hard on.
I don't see what this has achieved except for playground type shaming.

I'm fairly sure they actually can't and shouldn't look at anything without cause, but check your staff behaviour hand book.

[lilcreed]

@SuperficialSuzie thank you - didn’t think about that!

[lilcreed]

@PanicAndRun yes I do feel quite uncomfortable about it all. I suppose if I kick up it may look like I have something to hide. X

[PanicAndRun]

Thanks all. It also publishes a list of top offenders! This was in staffroom for all to see. I was 4th so not too bad!!

That is actually an issue (privacy and just basic respect and decency) and instead of worrying I'd be pitching a (professional) hissy fit.

[FreshFancyFrogglette]

You are massively over thinking. It really isn't that bad. Understandable. But try to stop stressing. Cunt is just a word. You deleted it. It's gone. Will be the end of the story. They've chosen to deal with it discretely, rather than call u up on it. Even if they did it would just be a caution.

[SuperficialSuzie]

OP I'd avoid the "left unattended" excuse as that could suggest that someone else accessed your unlocked computer which might have given them access to sensitive data.

I'd go with the typing "can't", that is very plausible.