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

[shushymcshush]

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.

People say all sorts of stuff on Mumsnet and the Daily Mail comments - but is that okay as they have an anonymous username?

I guess they would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it was you? (I may have watched far too many American cop
Shows)

I’ve read all kinds of nasty comments over the years (especially on the DM!) but it’s not like anybody ever gets sacked for them.

I’ve seen comments on here from people who say they work for the NHS for example - but it’s not as though the NHS can demand IP addresses and details from Mumsnet HQ.

@Bargebill19. You're welcome. I am a mine of (mostly useless) information. I looked it up once, because I'm old enough to be aware that there was never any such thing as 'freedom of speech' in Britain and because I spent years teaching teenagers who are always declaring 'I've a right to express my opinion', What - I'm not allowed to say what I think? and other such things.

It's useful to be able to point out No. You really aren't.

She's not sure who it is that has reported her, but no-one has said anything to her face, just reported to HR and she's now got to go to a meeting on Tuesday. She's not in a union. TBH I do think its the kind of thing she would say as she really recognises the work of the "hidden army" as she calls them in health care like porters, technical bods like radiographers etc and in schools like support staff who have been so busy as well trying to help kids and parents due to lockdown. But not in a nasty way (she's not like that) more of a "we are all in it together" way.

Going back to why you need to be careful in how you word what you write - although I'm sure this isn't the case with OPs cousin - this is what the Sun have just fallen foul of.

Johnny Depp is suing them for libel for writing that he is 'a wife-beater'. They will now need to prove that beyond any shadow of a doubt. Because Depp is bringing a defamation suit against NGN (the Sun's publishers) and Wootton (the editor), the onus is on the defence to prove that the actor abused his ex-wife, and not on Depp to prove his innocence.

If it's her personal FB and doesn't mention who her employer is and the account isn't in anyway related to her work then why are HR even bothered? She can comment about things that happen in her industry regardless of her employers position on it. For all they know her account could have been hacked or someone in her household wrote it when she put her phone down.

I don't understand how what she said would her into trouble? I'm in one of the public sector roles that has been overlooked and many many friends and colleagues have posted similar things on SM. Non of which show them or their workplaces in a negative light

Was she posting in work time?

Has she now Deleted it?

Its now been deleted. She didn't tell me if it was in work time, but looks like it was.

That's what they are going to get her on aren't they?

Oh and PP was right, she can only take colleague or TU rep in with her.

I have seen many nurses commenting on the pay rise. She needs to stop being public and to de friend anyone at her work. Happened to someone I know, they said ‘stressful day at work’ and got pulled up on it.

It would be worth her joining a union ASAP.

@Yankathebear surely union wouldn't help her as incident occurred before being a member?

I'm pretty sure all they can do is give a formal written warning following an investigatory meeting. Sacking for this (if what was written was as described here) would be a case for unfair dismissal, pretty sure the courts wouldn't accept "give all healthcare workers a raise" as not grounds for dismissal whatever the formal policy but a metaphorical slap on the wrists is likely.

They can't sack her for this! Even doing it in work time is a warning- not a sackable offence.

Who ever reported her needs to get a life

They may have a policy about phone use while work or another media policy.

If she has breached this she has 14 years of good service and I would expect a slap on the wrist if there are no other issues. Perhaps a reflection about safeguarding or using time wisely would be appropriate?

They will still help op. It’s worth contacting them.

My work place has policies on what we post on social media, I think most do. If she wasn't being malicious in her post and wasn't slagging the company off in any way, I think she may just be okay, perhaps get off with a warning, especially after all those years of service with no previous issues.
She just needs to be honest. Things on social media can come across differently to everyone else reading - we all know that. She meant no harm and will always think in future before posting things online.
I really hope things turn out okay. Keep us informed OP.

I’m willing to bet good money that if she defriends work associates she will be labelled a non team player.
It’s a hard lesson in not trusting anyone and certainly not being friends with work colleagues. Work is work and private life is private- neither should meet each other for precisely this reason - bitchyness/pettyness/boredom wanting to create trouble for someone else.

They can't sack her for this! Even doing it in work time is a warning- not a sackable offence.

Yes, but in telling her about the i upcoming nvestigation, they probably have a standard form which will outline possible outcomes of disciplinary action, which can range from no action to termination of employment. It doesn't mean they expect a particular investigation to result in a sacking, but they have worded it carefully to cover all eventualities so they don'thaverewrite it every time. It is scary if you're not expecting it.

I know it's a worry but she be fine. I work in adult social care and we weren't very pleased we did not get a pay rise. I can't imagine why you even want to report someone else for this opinion?

At most it be a slap on the wrist.

Every nurse, midwife, odp, etc I know has put something similar on their FB over the last week. The nhs would have to sack 70% of their staff if they sacked people for political stuff. I’d never slag off my individual hospital but the govt is fair game.

Someone I work with wasn't in a union but was called in for an investigation into conduct, he was able to join union and they represented him, think you had to be a member for a week before hand so he asked for the meeting to be postponed. I'd really recommend your cousin doing this to make sure it's a fair hearing.

No, unions are like insurance policies, you cant expect to join looking for help after something goes wrong. That was what the 14 years before were for!