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Original poster

Cousin in tears - thinks may lose job over FB post any tips

92 replies

shushymcshush · 23/07/2020 13:01

Hi grateful for any advice.

My cousin has been employed at workplace for nearly 14 years. Never been in trouble before. She's in tears as the other day, she put on FB that basically Drs & Teachers were getting a payrise, but what about all the other staff in hospitals and schools?

What she meant was that everyone in those organisations has worked so hard, you know all the support staff. A bit of equality would be nice (not taking anything away from the Drs, Nurses, Teachers)

I know it was a stupid post and she's shown me, clearly what she was getting at didn't quite come across that way. For some reason her post was set to public. Someone has snooped on her, seen it and informed management.

She's petrified she's goign to get the sack at the disciplinary. She didn't slag off her employer at all, just made a general statement (her employer is in the health arena).

In your experience wise MNtters, has she got a chance of escaping with a warning or is she likely to be fired? I've asked her to get me copies of social media policy etc.

OP posts:
AriettyHomily · 23/07/2020 13:01

Depends entirely on the policies at her work, and also the role she's employed in.

OryxNotCrake · 23/07/2020 13:02

Has she checked her work’s social media policy?

MySaladDays75 · 23/07/2020 13:07

And also whether she has listed her place of work on her FB profile

Comefromaway · 23/07/2020 13:09

I can’t see that she’s done anything wrong myself (wife of a teacher who won’t get it as he teaches in a specialist, government funded but, independent college).

Comefromaway · 23/07/2020 13:11

It’s very difficult to sack someone with that length of service unless it’s gross misconduct (assault, stealing, sexual harrasment, racism etc). More likely a verbal or written warning.

I’d be looking for another job with that level of work censorship.

Sisterwives · 23/07/2020 13:13

Depends on their SM policy. Also tell her nurses made their pay deal 3 years ago, we're still in it! We haven't been left out of anything!!

Bargebill19 · 23/07/2020 13:17

She’s not been rude about her employer. Or said anything about her employer. All it is a comment on government policy of the day. Can’t see anything wrong with that personally. Are we not allowed to comment on that either?

Wildlingyoumakemyheartsing · 23/07/2020 13:18

Many of my teacher friends deliberately have high SM settings as I've heard reall horror stories about parents snooping to find embarrassing pictures and putting them on school railings to being fired.

First she needs to improve her security settings - change her name (some people misspelled it or use a middle name as it isn't searchable), set everything to friends only and purge her friends list. Delete any extra About Me info and don't 'check in' or use location services.

She needs to promise never to do it again and discuss work related things on the internet. If she's lucky, she'll be fine but it's a stupid thing to do as many companies do recruitment by searching your name online first and won't hire you if anything flags at all.

GrannyBags · 23/07/2020 13:22

Why was it a stupid post? I’ve seen similar posted all over, from people in various professions. Is she sure that’s what the meeting is about? Seems a bit over the top if they didn’t have a very strict SM policy, which she should have known about.

BendingSpoons · 23/07/2020 13:22

I'm in the NHS. We have had lots of warnings about this sort of thing recently. I think if she goes in and basically says it was an error of judgement, I have removed it, I won't do it again, they will give her a warning. I doubt they would fire her. It doesn't sound that bad, and is a common complaint against the government rather than her employer.

KatherineJaneway · 23/07/2020 13:24

It will also depend on exactly what she said and how that is interpreted by others.

Hoppinggreen · 23/07/2020 13:26

It doesn’t really matter what we think
It depends on her employers SM policy and her FB settings

FlashesOfRage · 23/07/2020 13:29

This is just the world we live in unfortunately. She needs to check her employers social media policy, I’m assuming she’s been called in for a meeting?

I’m a teacher and my employers SM policy states that we simply can’t say anything political or potentially critical about our job or employer online anywhere.

We don’t have to agree with it personally but if we want to avoid meetings or warnings about it then we have to go along with it 💐

As someone above said; Be contrite, “I made an error of judgement, I’ve deleted it, I won’t do it again, sorry” x

Frazzled2207 · 23/07/2020 13:33

She needs to check the employers sm policy but I don’t think it’s a big deal. If she accepts she made a mistake (if asked), takes it down immediately and apologises I would be surprised if she was fired as she is not criticising her employer.

Original poster
shushymcshush · 23/07/2020 13:42

Thanks all. I've asked her to bring me copies of everything. I think she wants me to be her person that accompanies her so I can make notes at the meeting.

I hope they are lenient with her, she doesn't need this right now.

Her FB profile doesn't mention her employer at all, neither does the post.

OP posts:
strawberrypip · 23/07/2020 13:56

since when are we not entitled to freedom of speech? if your cousin did not slag off her current employer and their policies then I fail to see what it has to do with then what she posts on her own personal Facebook. if it's as innocent as you say and she has simply questioned why/if others in those fields will get acknowledged for their hard work I cannot see that this is an issue at all.

MrMeSeeks · 23/07/2020 13:56

If she hasnt got it listed as nhs as her Employeer then i dont think there’s much they can do Confused

strawberrypip · 23/07/2020 13:57

I also dont get how it was a stupid post from the way you've worded it. she hasnt written anything obscene or revealing - I'm a bit confused tbh

TitianaTitsling · 23/07/2020 14:00

Is her FB public? I think I know the post you mean, it's factual isnt it in that X is getting a raise -y isn't? Did whoever report her have the guts to say anything directly to challenge her?

Ilikewinter · 23/07/2020 14:01

Have they invited her to a formal meeting..assuming yes if she wants you to take notes??
Do you work with her, we can only take in another employee or trade union member so you may not be allowed to be her rep.

BlessYourCottonSocks · 23/07/2020 14:01

since when are we not entitled to freedom of speech?

Since always. There is no entitlement to freedom of speech in Britain, it is an American idea, enshrined in their Constitution. People who claim 'we've got freedom of speech' are grossly mistaken. We actually have stringent laws about what can and cannot be said and written in this country. We have had a negative right to freedom of speech since 1998 under the European Human Rights Act, but there are many checks and balances in place.

As of 2017, it was estimated that nine people per day were being arrested for online speech in the UK with five leading to convictions.

DaphneFanshaw · 23/07/2020 14:04

I’m not a HR or employment expert so am just posting out of interest more than being able to help out.
I would have thought this would be ok though wouldn’t it ?
It’s not critical of a place of work, just pointing out that other people deserve a pay rise.
My social media policy is quite ambiguous really (from what I remember) just states that we are responsible for what we like, post or share and that we shouldn’t like, post or share anything derogatory or linked to extremism etc.
From my really limited knowledge I don’t think you cousins post falls in to that category but I would be interested to find out more from someone who works in this area.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 23/07/2020 14:08

Is she in a union? I think it would be better for her to take a colleague into the meeting than you, it's a stronger statement.

But essentially, if it's something she would be happy to say out loud to her boss (and it sounds like it is) then she should have no problems.

IntermittentParps · 23/07/2020 14:20

But essentially, if it's something she would be happy to say out loud to her boss (and it sounds like it is) then she should have no problems.

Yeah, I agree with this.

Bargebill19 · 23/07/2020 14:25

@BlessYourCottonSocks

Wow. That’s really interesting to know. I will certainly look further into this. Thank you.