[Closed] Employee posting inappropriate Tweets

Would he say it to your face?

Depends whether the account/employee can be linked to your business. If they came to the attention of the people he's referring to, presumably this would be the case?

If you have any concerns regarding impact to your business, I would suggest an informal chat, just to see what his beef is.

Don't most companies have policies about this? I know my employer does (I can't recall what it is, and I'm too lazy to look it up).

Using google can you relate the name of your employee to your business or is his name widely known in the industry as an employee of yours? Would these people who he has been abusive to be potential clients or have an influence on your business? If so I would suggest that it is a clear case of bringing your business into disrepute and probably you could could safely take as much action as you want. If not, I would pull him in and point out error of his ways, that you would like him to remove them and the consequences of further posts.

He's pretty well known in our circles, people know he works for us.

Basically he was asking for advice on web dev matters and a peer (well respected, does the speaking circuit) responded, he didn't like what was said, things descended, he told the guy to go #}{% himself.

In London right now , need to read through our policy on the matter (we do have parts that refer to this subject).

He's pretty well known in our circles, people know he works for us.
...told the guy to go #}{% himself.

That would be a sackable offence in many places.

What you've written clearly makes it a business-related matter rather than a couple of guys arguing over nowt in their own time.

I would be asking him to delete the tweets immediately and make contact to apologise to the guy involved ASAP. It's a pain if you can't do it face to face, though.

What if he had posted here and asked for web dev advice and things descended. What if he'd asked for chainset advice? At what point do people have a private life?

I think he needs to close his account and apologise pretty sharpish.
I don't think you would be out of line to suggest that its done in the next 30 minutes.

[i]At what point do people have a private life? [/i]

At the point they might not be seen as representing or being associated with their employer.

If a known employee of a bike brand came on here being rude it might be seen by their employer as bringing the brand into disrepute. Equally asking tech questions within a community who know whoe you work for might equally be seen as linked to your employment and employer.

Lots of examples of people saying rash things on twitter that they get sacked for '#bloodycyclists' being the most obvious.

@DrJ - Twitter is not private, posting something there is like standing on the corner of the High Street on a Saturday afternoon and shouting at the top of your voice. Also it's a matter of whether people are posting under their real name and/or are readily identifiable.

OP, you need to check the terms of employment. Really this is one for HR too. You might like to start with an informal chat, not least to remind him that twitter is very public and that his actions do have an impact on the company

What if he had posted here and asked for web dev advice and things descended. What if he'd asked for chainset advice? At what point do people have a private life?

It's not the same thing at all. It's the equivalent of you using your personal twitter acc to tell another local medical professional to 'go f*** themselves'.

you came on here and asked for advice on this matter, could this be traceable back to you, your business and him? If so be careful what you do next.

DrJ - Member
What if he had posted here and asked for web dev advice and things descended. What if he'd asked for chainset advice? At what point do people have a private life?

there's a reason I don't let anyone I work with onto my facebook or twitter until after I leave a place! 😆

disciplinary in my work, plenty have gone down for it.

It should be (or has been in every employment contract I've signed) in the contract that should you say anything of any malice aimed at anything related to your employment - be it online or down the pub, disciplinary action is possible.

Just have an informal word- angle it that you are worried with the way it may be going/heading and could he delete the tweets/calm down abit.

> At what point do people have a private life?

At the point they might not be seen as representing or being associated with their employer.

Agreed. If you can be readily linked to your company and you are publicly spouting off about things related to that company then it doesn't really matter whether you are on-the-clock or not at that point or not.

Agreed. If you can be readily linked to your company and you are publicly spouting off about things related to that company then it doesn't really matter whether you are on-the-clock or not at that point or not.

I guess your assumption is that your employees have so little enthusiasm for the business that their interests can readily be divided into "work" and "non work". If I were an employer I'd be happy to have an employee who showed a bit of passion about his job. If it came to calling a competitor a ****er, or whatever, I'd have a word, but sacking someone? Really?

I guess your assumption is that your employees have so little enthusiasm for the business that their interests can readily be divided into "work" and "non work".

Nope. I regularly contribute to "work-related" stuff in my spare time (in my case this is software). But when I do I make a point of not telling people to go *** themselves.

Honestly, you're a doctor. If a GP started publicly slagging off another GP don't you think his/her Practice Managers would be interested?

It's just not appropriate.

disciplinary at mine as well and depending on policy i would , at the very least, take them to one side and strongly advise them against ever repeating this sort of behaviour.

I had a colleague at work who liked to use facebook at the end of the day to vent about 'the management' and occasionally 'stupid parents'. She also ill-advisedly collected ex students as facebook friends. She is currently seeking alternative employment. Some folk are very dim.

Nope. I regularly contribute to "work-related" stuff in my spare time (in my case this is software). But when I do I make a point of not telling people to go themselves.

Honestly, you're a doctor. If a GP started publicly slagging off another GP don't you think his/her Practice Managers would be interested?

It's just not appropriate.

I don't think the OP said that someone was told to themselves?

If a GP posted on fb along the lines of "only a complete idiot would advise against measles vaccination" should they get the sack?

I don't think the OP said that someone was told to *** themselves?

Not in the first post, but they did in the follow up post.

If a GP posted on fb along the lines of "only a complete idiot would advise against measles vaccination" should they get the sack?

If a GP went into a 'competitors' waiting room and went around all the waiting patients and said the same would you think any different?

Also, twitter is a hell of a lot more dangerous than fb.

Not in the first post, but they did in the follow up post.

True. My mistake, but ...

If a GP went into a 'competitors' waiting room and went around all the waiting patients and said the same would you think any different?

this is not comparable at all.

i never understand why folks use their real names on social media... asking for trouble.

this is not comparable at all.

Why?

edit - actually I can see why, if put on a private facebook page and not aimed directly at another GP. But I would contest if one GP tweeted at another GP's account "only a complete idiot would advise against measles vaccination" that would be the same as walking into their waiting room and saying the same in person to the patients. Which is closer to the OPs issue imo.

There you go DrJ

"Basically he was asking for advice on web dev matters and a peer (well respected, does the speaking circuit) responded, he didn't like what was said, things descended, he told the guy to go #}{% himself"

Maybe you couldn't read his hand writing 😀

johndoh - Member

an employee (using his own Twitter account) has posted several aggressive posts but they are towards people in our profession about subjects related to our business ( although not mentioning us).

So - should we have a word or do we just accept its his personal opinion and personality?

telling someone to go **** themselves would only be relavent if it was in work or work related. someone arguing online isn't anything to do with you unless they say something that is not true about people in your work or your work.

i never understand why folks use their real names on social media... asking for trouble

[quote=jaffejoffer ]i never understand why folks use their real names on social media... asking for trouble.

I'm never under any illusion that what I write on here is totally anonymous. Generally very easy to trace people who tell you to **** off.

[quote=nickjb]using a pseudonym implies you have something to hide or it isn't something you would say in public or face to face.

When i go out for a pint and a laugh with mates, I dont wear a name badge....doesnt mean i have something to hide, just a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Yeah but when you are on Twitter you're no longer "out for a pint and a laugh with mates", you're actually standing on top of the pub shouting through a loudhailer with someone recording it forever.

At that point people may ask who you are, regardless of your expectation of privacy.

You've only got to see what's happened with that Richmond Road Rage bloke's inadvertent tweet of his downstairs arrangements to understand that social media operates under different rules than a pub.

Far less ephemeral.

i never understand why folks use their real names on social media... asking for trouble

using a pseudonym implies you have something to hide or it isn't something you would say in public or face to face.

Haha, yeah okay.

Our company social media policy is roughly along the lines of say what you like but it had better not be traceable back to the company or make personal references (information security aside).

Pseudonym is well advised, it's the equivalent of taking off your company pass when you've left the gates.

[quote=squirrelking ]Pseudonym is well advised, it's the equivalent of taking off your company pass when you've left the gates.

Yep, but don't imagine you don't still have a form of identification after you've taken your pass off.

Oh of course not, it just comes down to a reasonable expectation of privacy. A private post under an alias doesn't carry the same weight as a public post using your real name.

People have been fired for less!

"of his downstairs arrangements"

LOL

Work aside,

Social media is public. Clue's in the name. You have to realise that anything you post can be read by anyone (friends-locked posts aside, allegedly anyway). So how you choose to conduct yourself might later be picked up by a future prospective employer, your wife, your mother, the Daily Mail, a popular cycling forum, national television etc. For this reason alone, it's a bad idea generally to tell someone to perform an act of auto-fornication.

I see posts from friends / acquaintances quite often that make wonder if they've actually thought through what they're posting. I think we're currently experiencing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people getting caught out for saying ill-conceived or plain idiotic things. As social media gets bigger - and it will only get bigger - and as people's histories get longer, it's going to be commonplace.

Those videos on the Internet of you dunking your willy in someone's pint might be hilarious when you're 19; what happens when you're a business director on your 40s and they resurface?

As an aside to all of you crying fool to those who use social media under their real name - I understand that it is against FB policy to have an account under a false name (and yes, I have read the ts and cs that was a fun day), and may even be a crime, depending on what you say and do.

This kind of thing must get difficult in academia, where people's work kinda is their life, their career is based on their personal views to a certain extent.

Though we were talking twitter, and I don't <connection terminated whilst I go and check twitter T&Cs before I incriminate myself>

I use a pseudonym because I was sick of random followers and friend requests from nobbers I've met once, or people I was at primary school with and folk from work who I don't want knowing my business. The people I care about know who I am. It's nothing to do with having something to hide.

Is it much different to me, a representative of Silverfish, telling one of you lot on here to F*ck Off?
I wouldn't say so and if I did I would expect some fairly severe fall out.

Although I have been tempted many times 😉

i never understand why folks use their real names on social media... asking for trouble.

As an aside to all of you crying fool to those who use social media under their real name - I understand that it is against FB policy to have an account under a false name (and yes, I have read the ts and cs that was a fun day), and may even be a crime, depending on what you say and do.

This kind of thing must get difficult in academia, where people's work kinda is their life, their career is based on their personal views to a certain extent.

Those videos on the Internet of you dunking your willy in someone's pint might be hilarious when you're 19; what happens when you're a business director on your 40s and they resurface?

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http://xkcd.com/1370/

I was at a really interesting talk about this at work - I'll see if I can find a link to the information it was based on.

Essentially it focussed on the number of employers that search social media before employing. It was lots. The most interesting thing was what would prevent you getting employed varied around the world. For example in the States poor behaviour and underage drinking would seriously effect your employment chances even when substantially older. In the UK the single biggest social media turn off for employers was the poor use of english.

Is it much different to me, a representative of Silverfish, telling one of you lot on here to F*ck Off?

Still undecided on how to deal with this but thank you for all the input so far.

What does your policy say?

There are several cases where people have gone to tribunal to contest dismissal.

The upshot was (from the layer who gave us a talk on this) was that you don't need to name a company or even say, in your profile, who you work for. There was an example of someone who was dismissed for gross misconduct after 'slagging off' someone they worked with (there was a long rant I think, possibly some previous too). The 'slagger' didn't say who they worked for or name the 'slagee'. However, a large number of here facebook 'friends' worked for the company and could easily work out who the comments were directed at. I think the daft bint even had the 'slagee' as a facebook 'friend', which led to the complaint and ultimate dismissal. The tribunal found in favour of the company and upheld the dismissal. The reason was that it was blindingly obvious what she was talking about and was bringing the company into disrepute, not to mention bullying.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with saying you've had a crap day, but never go into specifics. Crucial here is always consider how other people could interpret your comments. Someone being terribly upset by something you've written has no defence in "well, that's not how I intended it to sound".

And remember, if you ain't sure, it's probably wiser to just not 'post' whatever you were going to say. Deleting afterwards is utterly pointless as others will probably have seen it anyway and the damage is done.

[i]In the UK the single biggest social media turn off for employers was the poor use of english (sic). [/i]

See, all those irritating pedants that point out your grammar and spelling errors online are actually doing you a favour.

What does your policy say?

It says action can be taken but it isn't clear whether or not it relates to using company accounts as opposed to personal ones.

We did not continue employing someone, at least partly because of this issue, when it came to the end of their initial trial period. As much because of what it said about them personally, as much as what they actually said.

It says action can be taken but it isn't clear whether or not it relates to using company accounts as opposed to personal ones.

Then surely it's both no?

Essentially it focussed on the number of employers that search social media before employing. It was lots.

And why wouldn't you? I was googling prospective employees fifteen years ago, even back then it was eye-opening what you'd find. Ar a random example, one young lad had a proto-blog where he was bigging himself up as a master hacker and saying that it was his goal in life to crash big high-profile systems. Sure, we'll give you a job looking after our server farm.

Still undecided on how to deal with this but thank you for all the input so far.

Is the tweeter a bit young and immature? I think an informal sit-down over a coffee, some advice on how to conduct himself, that there are consequences to all actions (especially stuff you write down on social media) and to have a think about what he's about to write before actually writing it. Oh, and to man up and apologise to the guy he insulted (though it might be an idea to follow the timeline of the conversation to see what led to the outburst). We've all said things we regret at some stage, it's just that for a lot of us here, they were never recorded electronically for posterity.

He may well thank you for it later in life. Second chances and all that.

I see stuff former work colleagues post on social media all the time. I'm thankful I only "knew" them in a work capacity and didn't have to be exposed to what they were really thinking every day.

Is the tweeter a bit young and immature?

I think a quiet word is the best way forward at this time.

Me too. No point in potentially ruining the guy's prospects with disciplinary stuff yet.

He has anger issues (that he has accepted himself ).

Fairy nuff...maybe the quiet word will force some introspection on his behalf and change his behaviour in the future. Good on you for not going nuclear too quickly.

english (sic)

Damn you!

No point in potentially ruining the guy's prospects with disciplinary stuff yet.

That very much depends if anyone complains about it officially really, but he does need to be told to wind his neck in

He has anger issues (that he has accepted himself ). I think a quiet word is the best way forward at this time

well when he tells you to **** off in person at work for interfering with his personal life then maybe then you can fire his ass lol

😆

My work has a policy where if you associate yourself with the company online (Facebbok, Twitter) everything you post or gets posted to your profile can be considered as representing the company.
If you bad mouth the company/collegues/industry (even if you don't associate yourself with them online as an employer) you are going to get a meeting with HR if they find out..

Realistically if you have a linkedin profile it is likely this people can be linked to a Facebook or Twitter profile so whatever you say can be linked back to where you work...

One of the guy who used to come in to do inspections for us had a love/hate relationship with Facebook. He doesn't have the ability not to argue especially after a drink. He now has a reputation in his company for this and it has stopped him moving off the shop floor when he would otherwise be one of the Global Region managers.

The guy needs to be told what is acceptable and what is not. It will be better for him and the company in the longer run.

you can bad mouth your work place so long as its true no matter what their policy is.

you can bad mouth your work place so long as its true no matter what their policy is.

Good luck with that.

iolo - Member

Good luck with that.

given that its UK law what exactly are they going to do

Talking of social media faux pas, this was posted by some ambulance chasers. Their Facebook page has an embarrassed apology on it...

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