Page 7 | Daughter facing disciplinary over social media post

user89066511 · 2021-08-06T09:10:56+00:00

My daughter works in retail in a supermarket. During lockdown at the beginning of the year someone posted on her timeline asking how she was and saying how rubbish the year was. She replied life is pretty normal for me working in supermarket but the customers are more annoying than ever. Someone has reported the post and she now faces disciplinary action. Can anyone give any advice? She thinks that the company are been unreasonable but I know some companies are very strict on social media posts.

LIZS · 07/08/2021 14:01

Was there anything going on at the time which could be assumed to be a reference, ie if she was having an issue with her colleague or manager? Agree she needs to apologise and not excuse.

Lokdok · 07/08/2021 14:05

She needs to grow up. They’re not being unreasonable. It’s their policy which she knows. She won’t be fired for a first offence, she just needs to show up and take it - and not do it again. If she goes on saying they’re unreasonable and doesn’t show remorse, she’ll be unemployed.

Dustinto · 07/08/2021 14:17

@Ifailed completely agree. I don’t think paying minimum wage entitles you to police what employees say on their own personal social media account. With the obvious exception of giving personal information about clients or breaching data protection.
She may need to apologise to keep her job OP but I don’t think her employers are being totally reasonable. I’d expect a good employer to discuss the issue of rude and aggressive customers with her and help her handle these situations.

notimagain · 07/08/2021 14:27

I don’t think paying minimum wage entitles you to police what employees say on their own personal social media account.

You may well think that but the reality is regardless of the pay grade many companies in the Uk have policies in place that mean they can and do.

Hekatestorch · 07/08/2021 16:13

I don’t think paying minimum wage entitles you to police what employees say on their own personal social media account.

So if they pay above minimum wage as many supermarkets do, it would be fine to have these policies?

Nohomemadecandles · 07/08/2021 17:51

Hopefully a lesson in growing the fuck up! Actions have consequences.

Hope she keeps her job and learns a lesson.

overnightangel · 07/08/2021 17:59

In this day and age you have to be really thick or really naive to post something like that 😂

00100001 · 07/08/2021 18:14

Lol, she's being such a baby about it...

Debbacat6 · 07/08/2021 18:14

She shouldn't have done it
And now she's been caught she should be meek and sorry. Not chippy

00100001 · 07/08/2021 18:18

@Dustinto

" I don’t think paying minimum wage entitles you to police what employees say on their own personal social media account"

So, it's fine for the minimum wage person to say "oh I served Dustinto today, she was an utter cunt" and you'd be fine if the employer said "oh well it's not for us to police....she can say what she likes because she's in minimum wage".

What nonsense.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 07/08/2021 18:18

[quote Dustinto]@Ifailed completely agree. I don’t think paying minimum wage entitles you to police what employees say on their own personal social media account. With the obvious exception of giving personal information about clients or breaching data protection.
She may need to apologise to keep her job OP but I don’t think her employers are being totally reasonable. I’d expect a good employer to discuss the issue of rude and aggressive customers with her and help her handle these situations.[/quote]
So what should their social media policy say, this only applies if you earn above a certain amount? Otherwise you can stay us off as much as you want without consequence?

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 07/08/2021 18:19

*slag

Marriedatfirstyear · 07/08/2021 18:33

Apologise and move on, no buts or looking for loopholes. Sorry to say but you seem to be an enabler OP. She needs to learn to take responsibility for her actions, regardless intent.

csigeek · 07/08/2021 18:36

I would recommend she takes the warning and actually reads her employers social media policy. Like others have said, rule of thumb is never talk about work on SM. Lesson learned for her.

Oblomov21 · 07/08/2021 18:40

I disagree. It's obvious that the people she's referring to as annoying are the customers.

peppermintpat · 07/08/2021 18:47

@user89066511

Thank you all for the replies. Have spoken to my daughter and shown her the comments. She told me she felt that her company were been unreasonable as she didn't say that the customers were annoying (like I put in my OP). She has shown me the comment she put:- Life is pretty normal for me working in supermarket but people are more annoying than ever. Her argument is that they cannot prove she is talking about customers. Her profile does name the supermarket she works in.

I bet this is Waitrose cos I used to work for them and they will discipline you for anything. They have zero feelings for any staff and only back up their favourites. I had a policeman who was the ex of a colleague complain to Waitrose about me and I never even mentioned work!!! I still got pulled into the managers office as he said I may have to come into Waitrose and I would make him feel uncomfortable!! Waitrose should have backed me but oh no. He wanted revenge on his ex and her friends. Anyway, your daughter is correct. She does not specify the name of her work or mention customers so they can sod off. Make sure she takes a trusted colleague into the disciplinary with her.

GinPin2 · 07/08/2021 18:51

Absolutely, @DiamondBright,

Going back a number of years now I was asked to stay behind after school after marking books one day, whilst on Supply.
Not to leave until the Head had spoken to me !!!
The evening before I had mentioned in a post that I had only received 5.5 hours work in total that month ( September 2016 ), whereas the same month the year before I had received 5.5 days work in total and that I hoped it would pick up.
I was teaching at more than one school so it was not directed at any school in particular, I was feeling a little down about it and was just telling my friends.
Anyway, the Head really treated me like an eight year old when reprimanding me. She then went on to mention the member of office staff who I suspected had told her. This person was also responsible for dishing out the Supply work. I went quiet and ate humble pie but actually was seething.
I went home and deleted all members of staff !

Matildalamp · 07/08/2021 18:54

@JanuaryBones @Ifailed @Stardust91 @LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

Thank you for the common sense! Do the rest of you work in HR? Or are you just slavishly devoted to your workplace? Or most probably, you’re the annoying customers! Most people work because they have to, and do a good job while they’re there. What on earth is this utter nonsense that we have to be perfect robots and worship the company?? I can’t stand it! It is Americanisation, and it’s sickening. If I saw a post where a retail worker said the customers were annoying I’d think good for you, tell them off, they need it. People seem to get more and more entitled, “I’m a customer, I’m always right, you must serve me” Aaaarrrggghhh!

Hekatestorch · 07/08/2021 19:06

[quote Matildalamp]**@JanuaryBones* @Ifailed* @Stardust91 @LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

Thank you for the common sense! Do the rest of you work in HR? Or are you just slavishly devoted to your workplace? Or most probably, you’re the annoying customers! Most people work because they have to, and do a good job while they’re there. What on earth is this utter nonsense that we have to be perfect robots and worship the company?? I can’t stand it! It is Americanisation, and it’s sickening. If I saw a post where a retail worker said the customers were annoying I’d think good for you, tell them off, they need it. People seem to get more and more entitled, “I’m a customer, I’m always right, you must serve me” Aaaarrrggghhh![/quote]
I am confused.

Knowing employer policy and actually sticking to it, after agreeing to stick to it is 'slavishly devoted'.

Yes most people work because they have to. What's that got to do with anything? Do you believe you can choose to ignore any of your employers policies based on 'well I have to work' and they just have to accept it?

And how does understanding policies and how employment works, automatically equal annoying supermarket customer?

Employee conduct, is not Americanisation.

twinningatlife · 07/08/2021 19:12

I also suspect this is Waitrose as I know someone at John Lewis who posted something very similar and was also disciplined

It doesn't matter that your daughter didn't mention the word "customer" specifically - anyone reading the post would know who she meant

She'll just get a warning I suspect and referred for training on use of social media and company rules

Eatingsoupwithafork · 07/08/2021 19:23

Never talk about work or politics on social media… it will always come back to haunt you. I’d take it as a lesson learnt.

LoveFall · 07/08/2021 19:31

A few years ago I drafted a social media policy for my employer. This was after an incident where someone made a rather unfortunate statement on social media.

The research I did showed without question that it is wise to keep your profile private, and even then do not make comments about your employer, your clients, or customers.

Just don't p.

Ifailed · 07/08/2021 21:11

Knowing employer policy and actually sticking to it, after agreeing to stick to it is 'slavishly devoted'.

Ha. Because everyone employed on a NMW contract is taken through the sheafs of policy documents dreamt up by a remote HR department which are constantly changing?

It's clear on this thread between those who deal with retail customers on a day-to-day basis working on a shop floor, and those who call it 'customer service' from an office elsewhere and don't experience it all the time. Probably too busy writing more policy documents.

Anguspie · 07/08/2021 21:43

Did her work provide social media training? Do they have a SM policy that she has been shown/trained on? Is there a SM clause in her contract? Did she mention the name of the supermarket on her profile or the post? If the answer is no to all of the above she has a case for unfair dismissal if it comes to that - you can’t expect employees to know something is against policy or considered unreasonable unless you tell them so………

QueenofDestruction · 07/08/2021 21:43

@Ifailed

Knowing employer policy and actually sticking to it, after agreeing to stick to it is 'slavishly devoted'.

Ha. Because everyone employed on a NMW contract is taken through the sheafs of policy documents dreamt up by a remote HR department which are constantly changing?

It's clear on this thread between those who deal with retail customers on a day-to-day basis working on a shop floor, and those who call it 'customer service' from an office elsewhere and don't experience it all the time. Probably too busy writing more policy documents.

You agree to work for a wage and to adhere to company policies, as long as that wage and the policies are lawful - that is the contract you agree to when you are employed whatever your wage. You should read those policies as they are your work rules. They should be updated annually. If you don't agree then don't work for the company., if you don't read them you are only putting yourself in a bad position as you should know what you can and cannot do and what the company can and cannot do.