Life Your Facebook posts, and your boss.

Direckshun · 08-14-2010, 09:22 PM

I just got off the phone with a coworker who was told earlier today that she was about this close to getting fired for trash talking on her employer -- not her boss, but the company -- on Facebook.

Some of the things she said were generally critical, revealed nothing that was private (she was bitching about public information about the financial mess of the company she works at).

She was harrassed about it by her boss at work the next week after the postings (she had posted about the issues several times), and was told today in a frank conversation that they considered firing her over it, but chose not to.

She asked me if she'd have a legal case to sue her employer after being fired for antagonistic, but not privacy-violating, Facebook posting about her job. I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea.

Thoughts?

BillSelfsTrophycase · 08-14-2010, 09:23 PM

Facebook + careers = a cluster**** waiting to happen

irishjayhawk · 08-14-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carls20yearplan

Facebook + careers = a cluster**** waiting to happen

I'm wondering if that's going to change here on out.

Imagine in 30 years when politicians will be vetted for something posted to their fb status years previously.

BIG_DADDY · 08-14-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carls20yearplan

Facebook + careers = a cluster**** waiting to happen

Facebook is a great place to share pictures and the special moments in your life. If people are smart they will keep it that way and not turn it into a political place or a place to talk about their relationships whether that be with their significant other or their employer. It should be common sense but some people are just all about the drama and can't help themself.

Oucho Cinco · 08-15-2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Facebook is a great place to share pictures and the special moments in your life. If people are smart they will keep it that way and not turn it into a political place or a place to talk about their relationships whether that be with their significant other or their employer. It should be common sense but some people are just all about the drama and can't help themself.

Apparently she doesn't use the privacy settings on facebook. I'm relatively sure you can set it up so only your friends can see what you post. If your friends are rats then you might be screwed.

Omaha · 08-16-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carls20yearplan

Facebook + careers = a cluster**** waiting to happen

Nah. I think a certain degree of stupidity is required to reach that sum.

BIG_DADDY · 08-14-2010, 09:25 PM

No, but it's about time to go find another job. Hopefully your friend doesn't pull another brilliant move and look it on the company computer.

**chasedude** · 08-14-2010, 09:25 PM

Nothing is private anymore

**luv** · 08-14-2010, 09:27 PM

What you say on Facebook can legally be used against you. However, if she violated any company policy is a different story. If she hasn't said anything that isn't public knowledge, then, IMO she should be fine. If she signed any privacy statements preventing her from saying anything, public knowledge or not, she could be in the wrong.

Miles · 08-14-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv

What you say on Facebook can legally be used against you. However, if she violated any company policy is a different story. If she hasn't said anything that isn't public knowledge, then, IMO she should be fine. If she signed any privacy statements preventing her from saying anything, public knowledge or not, she could be in the wrong.

Employment is basically at-will in almost all circumstances in the US unless you have an employment contract.

The_Doctor10 · 08-14-2010, 09:28 PM

Keep Facebook and business separate. If you must rant about your job on the internet, start an anonymous blog that 10 people read. Otherwise, shut up. If you walked in and vocally declared how much your company is ****ing shit up, they'd fire you. Facebook isn't much different; you're putting your name to it.

**Bane** · 08-14-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Keep Facebook and business separate. If you must rant about your job on the internet, start an anonymous blog that 10 people read. Otherwise, shut up. If you walked in and vocally declared how much your company is ****ing shit up, they'd fire you. Facebook isn't much different; you're putting your name to it.

Omaha · 08-16-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Keep Facebook and business separate. If you must rant about your job on the internet, start an anonymous blog that 10 people read. Otherwise, shut up. If you walked in and vocally declared how much your company is ****ing shit up, they'd fire you. Facebook isn't much different; you're putting your name to it.

This. If you want to "friend" people at your work, use the security features to control what they can/can't see. It's pretty simple.

**loochy** · 08-16-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Keep Facebook and business separate. If you must rant about your job on the internet, start an anonymous blog that 10 people read. Otherwise, shut up. If you walked in and vocally declared how much your company is ****ing shit up, they'd fire you. Facebook isn't much different; you're putting your name to it.

That's kind of part of my job...
...we find out what is wrong, we try to find people to help fix the problem, then we formulate a plan.

PhillyChiefFan · 08-16-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unleash_the_Phury

Keep Facebook and business separate.

Exactly

08-14-2010, 09:22 PM	Topic Starter
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $3583447	Your Facebook posts, and your boss. I just got off the phone with a coworker who was told earlier today that she was about this close to getting fired for trash talking on her employer -- not her boss, but the company -- on Facebook. Some of the things she said were generally critical, revealed nothing that was private (she was bitching about public information about the financial mess of the company she works at). She was harrassed about it by her boss at work the next week after the postings (she had posted about the issues several times), and was told today in a frank conversation that they considered firing her over it, but chose not to. She asked me if she'd have a legal case to sue her employer after being fired for antagonistic, but not privacy-violating, Facebook posting about her job. I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea. Thoughts?
Posts: 59,422

08-14-2010, 09:23 PM	#2
BillSelfsTrophycase WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION Join Date: Oct 2009 Casino cash: $10009313	Facebook + careers = a cluster**** waiting to happen
Posts: 6,755

08-14-2010, 09:25 PM	#7
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $3948410	No, but it's about time to go find another job. Hopefully your friend doesn't pull another brilliant move and look it on the company computer. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,438

08-14-2010, 09:25 PM	#8
chasedude Supporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Joe Casino cash: $9994900	Nothing is private anymore
Posts: 36,287

08-14-2010, 09:27 PM	#9
luv You think you can get by this? Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $-180000	What you say on Facebook can legally be used against you. However, if she violated any company policy is a different story. If she hasn't said anything that isn't public knowledge, then, IMO she should be fine. If she signed any privacy statements preventing her from saying anything, public knowledge or not, she could be in the wrong.
Posts: 63,483