Disciplinary over Tweets - I need a hand hold

[BelgianFudge]

Does anyone have any experience of facing disciplinary over getting into a twitter spat? Nothing to do with the employer, but someone has sent screenshots to them and disciplinary action has been initiated.

Sorry for scant detail but I'm understandably worried about revealing much.

@Winterpaw

I disagree that posts have to be really offensive for twitter to ban an account. Plenty of people have been banned or suspended for unfathomable reasons.

However in your DH case it sounds like it's not even so much as what he is saying online as to a prolonged and persistent tirade of abuse.

Saying it's his "outlet" because he is struggling with his mental health doesn't wash. What about those on the receiving end of his rants?

I'd seriously advise him to use his time online more wisely and look for another job ASAP or else learn new skills/volunteer for a charity/get a hobby. Sorry OP it must be very frustrating for you to have to deal with this.

He doesn't know why his previous account was suspended. Twitter didn't tell him - but he can reasonably assume it was for similar behaviour.

Yeah it is frustrating. I told him not to do this, I monitored his twitter feed and found it very stressful watching him whip himself into this sort of anger time and again.

Just to be clear: both the current and old twitter accounts had his name on, or some way of accurately identifying him? He surely can't be surprised then?

If it's not clear that the accounts were his, would the employer have needed to have some proof?

@MindGrapes

Just to be clear: both the current and old twitter accounts had his name on, or some way of accurately identifying him? He surely can't be surprised then?

If it's not clear that the accounts were his, would the employer have needed to have some proof?

I think his new account had his name on, but his old account didn't. I'm not sure though to be honest.

How did he think he was going to be anonymous on Twitter if he was using his own name?

I've read the vast majority of this thread and I have to say your DH has been incredibly naive and stupid posting on Twitter not once but twice.

I'm not surprised his employers are gunning for him after this as he seems not to have learned and is a loose cannon (to them).

A first offence would warrant a written/verbal warning but twice? I'd probably want to dismiss him too. I've worked with employment lawyers in the past, a few would probably help him to get off with a warning but sadly I don't think your DH will learn. It's not even as though guidance around social media accounts is new, so he can't claim that naivety.

"but sadly I don't think your DH will learn."

It does look that way, sadly.

Difficult to say that you're sorry & it won't happen again-when it already has!

Hi op sorry your experiencing this.

In my role I have disciplined 2 people for breaching social media policy

One was a Twitter debate which got nasty over a football incident- the third party did simmilar to whats happened to your dh and googled the name and found the linked in profile then contacted us about this with screenshots. That individual was sacked. They were in a senior role and in a department and the organisation had to issue a formal apology through its own social media platforms as the complainant had gone to the trouble to share and tag the organisation into the screenshots for all to see....

The second individual was not dismissed but final written warning. They were horrified and apologetic deleted social media and managed to keep their job

Ultimately in this day and age our social media presence is seen as an extension to our professional existance wither rightly or wrongly....thank god for anon forum mumsnet

I suspect the employer have the screenshots from the old Twitter a/c from when he was warned about his FB commentary?

I would fully expect him to be fired I'm afraid.

Is there any way that he can plead temporary insanity lol?

He certainly is horrified and deeply sorry, and has deleted his social media. He has apologised to the company during his initial interview and will do so again.

He is undergoing therapy for his mental health issues. This pre dated this incident.

He hasn't reported the most recent incident of serious harassment from his colleague. His union advised him to hold on to it for now. I strongly disagree and think he should have reported it immediately. He has photographic evidence.

I suspect the employer have the screenshots from the old Twitter a/c from when he was warned about his FB commentary?

It was an informal warning though, and he did what they asked and the considered the matter dealt with. He was told that removing the company name from his FB account was sufficient. If they subsequently collected evidence of what they considered to be bad behaviour on twitter didn't they have a duty to deal with it then rather than sit on it?

OP, an informal warning means ‘next time it will be a formal disciplinary process’. Not ‘forget all about it’.

Yes true - but he did what he was asked to do and they considered the matter closed.

I'm not defending him - I'm furious with what he's done. But he needs to be treated fairly

I would guess the screenshots of the closed Twitter account came from another college who he has previously had a spat with (you mentioned they all harassed each other).

It does sound like ground for final written warning to me - ie, do this once more and we will sack you.

@Imiss2019

Sounds like his employers are sick of him and are hoping they've found a way to get rid. Although he hasn't directly brought them into disrepute they probably think he's a bit of a liability.

Agreed with this.

They warned him but he continued. Must be quite serious comments to get warned by your employer about FB then banned by Twitter then reported again because of a new account.

Bottom line is, he can't control himself. I'm guessing he's also said things to colleagues or they keep away from him, hence the harassment comments. Has one of them complained?

I think his goose is cooked.

No there is no mention of any of his colleagues complaining - this hasn't come from them

@BelgianFudge

No there is no mention of any of his colleagues complaining - this hasn't come from them

They can maintain the complainants privicy.

Saying this gently as you're obviously stressed, but he's giving you his version. If an employer warned him about FB then I'm sure colleagues know about that and someone has keenly pointed out the Twitter outpourings.

In fact his boss said (in the interview transcript) that he doesn't bring his views to work, and tends to keep his head down when this subject is discussed.

DH is the only person of a specific group working at his company (not a protected characteristic though). He has endured significant xenophobic abuse from his Brexit voting colleagues. His boss himself said DH has not voiced his opinions at work.

They can maintain the complainants privicy.

... especially if your DH has previous form for aggressive arguments and harassment.

The company could well not be suggesting an internal complainant on the basis of avoiding your DH from guessing. They have a duty of care to employees, that involves protecting them from potentially being harassed as packback for "snitching".

They can maintain the complainants privicy.

Yes of course - but they stated "no one had complained" and have not alleged any complaints from his colleagues. They can't discipline him for something they deny happened

@BelgianFudge

He certainly is horrified and deeply sorry, and has deleted his social media. He has apologised to the company during his initial interview and will do so again.

He is undergoing therapy for his mental health issues. This pre dated this incident.

He hasn't reported the most recent incident of serious harassment from his colleague. His union advised him to hold on to it for now. I strongly disagree and think he should have reported it immediately. He has photographic evidence.

I'm sorry but to me, as an employer, even on the HR side, the fact that your DH has mental health issues would make me feel slight compassion but wouldn't necessarily get him off the hook. It sounds like anger management issues are at play here.

Is his colleague who is seriously harassing him part of the Twitter issue? I agree that this should have been reported immediately too.

Saying this gently as you're obviously stressed, but he's giving you his version. If an employer warned him about FB then I'm sure colleagues know about that and someone has keenly pointed out the Twitter outpourings.

But I have read all the evidence they have presented against him. Including his employers statement that the FB issue was considered resolved.

A colleague may well have pointed out his Twitter behaviour. But his boss statement said he has spoken to his colleagues and none of them were bothered

@BelgianFudge

In fact his boss said (in the interview transcript) that he doesn't bring his views to work, and tends to keep his head down when this subject is discussed.

DH is the only person of a specific group working at his company (not a protected characteristic though). He has endured significant xenophobic abuse from his Brexit voting colleagues. His boss himself said DH has not voiced his opinions at work.

Ok, that's fine and good that he doesn't bring his views to work and keeps his head down when the subject is discussed.

It's also good that his boss says that your DH has not voiced his opinions at work.

But he has voiced these opinions, which are controversial, outside work, has been spoken to about them once and I believe you said re Facebook too. OK, someone has found him and reported him about this which is mean and shouldn't happen but your DH has lost control in speaking to someone about this and should really know better and should be backing off completely and saying nothing online.

I'm sorry but to me, as an employer, even on the HR side, the fact that your DH has mental health issues would make me feel slight compassion but wouldn't necessarily get him off the hook. It sounds like anger management issues are at play here.

I agree it does display anger management issues. This is the subject of his therapy

Is his colleague who is seriously harassing him part of the Twitter issue? I agree that this should have been reported immediately too

No, it's nothing to do with it. It was an unfortunate coincidence that it happened at the same time as this.

Ok, that's fine and good that he doesn't bring his views to work and keeps his head down when the subject is discussed.

It's also good that his boss says that your DH has not voiced his opinions at work.

But he has voiced these opinions, which are controversial, outside work, has been spoken to about them once and I believe you said re Facebook too. OK, someone has found him and reported him about this which is mean and shouldn't happen but your DH has lost control in speaking to someone about this and should really know better and should be backing off completely and saying nothing online.

I completely agree - he knows it was wrong and deeply beneath him. He is mortified