When Facebook Sucks a Little

[adorable]

I am a manager with a staff of around 25.

I keep the lines very clear between myself and them. Even the appearance of impropriety can get you sued nowadays. I don't add anyone on my staff to my facebook - except my assistant cuz she's well, my assistant and we have worked together for years.

Most of my staff have facebook accounts and apparently all add each other.

A couple of days ago one of my supervisors went to my assistant and told her that one of the staff has been posting "things" on their FB about work. My assistant told me. I searched his name and sure enough I could see his wall.

Wow. Just wow. This mild mannered, seemingly shy person wasn't at all how they appeared to me. And had lots of opinions about the way things are done around here. lol. Now that type of bitching I have no problem with - I am used to people thinking they know better then I do. What I do have a problem with is that he's called in sick and sure enough - he was at concerts. The pictures are there for the world to see.

The other disturbing thing was the WAY that he was bitching. We have some pretty clear cut rules about the way things are done here. There are good reasons for them. He clearly violates the ones that he doesn't think matter. We are dealing with people's money. We are dealing with people. Lots of people. Lots of money.

I also found out that he is planning on moving in a couple of months. That was good to know.

I then PM'd him in FB and suggested that he change his privacy settings.

I have only read about this type of thing happening and people getting fired for it. I wouldn't fire him for it because....well he's leaving anyway apparently and the poor thing isn't smart enough to navigate his privacy settings. I also don't think it rises to the level of being fired over it either. Or does it?

Is it just stupidity? Don't we all or haven't we all called in sick (well back in the day when I had jobs where you could call in sick to) to go and goof off?

There are things that I like about my job and things I don't. I don't post things that I'm not ok with everyone knowing. When I'm having a bad day, even if it's work related, I am not going to post something that might keep me from getting paid tomorrow.


I am always saddened by disloyalty. It happens in a lot of different ways in management by people that you think you know because you spend so much time together. It actually happens outside of work with people you think you really know.

Anyway, he is here today. He is kissing my ass and not making eye contact. I think I was angry and now I'm just at that place of *sigh* if that makes sense. I feel like I need to address the rules issue with him and ignore the rest at the very least. There is a part of me that would rather just fire him. Then another part of me that is thinking - if I didn't know....ugh.


I'm not sure what my topic is but there has to be one in here somewhere.

[Rufusboi]

It seems like more and more people are getting into trouble over the FB accounts and do not realize either how to change the settings or forget that what appears to be their "private" bitching is not so private. You might even want to remind him or show him some stories of people losing jobs over their facebook bitch sessions. I think people just get too comfortable online and privacy, circumspection, and just good manners tend to go out the door. There seems to be this lack of understanding about repercussions. People feel they can say what they like, do what they like, and nothing is going to come back on them. Melissa teaches online and what students reveal in their intro bios is pretty schocking: addictions, mental health problems, marriage problems, kids, the personal problems of their kids, finances, lack of finances, I mean really personal and private stuff shared with a group of 20 or so classmates/strnagers who now know their name, personal details, what state or city they live in, how old they are. where they work etc.

Rufus

[NJFemmie]

You know, it's pretty common knowledge about the dangers of posting on FB. Maybe he wanted it to get back to someone. People do strange things without realizing it.

If my co-workers were added as friends to my FB, (and they most certainly aren't) I would not be posting a lick of anything to do with work or what I do in my spare time away from work. Not unless I want someone to bust my ass.

[Kobi]

A wise mentor once told me, decades ago, never put anything in writing....cuz someday, somehow, it will come back to bite you in the hiney.

Technology has brought us a long way, but our boundaries with it seem a little fuzzy. And the pitfalls for its misuse are growing.

I dont envy employers/managers who have to deal with the ramifications of it. Sometimes you are damned if you do and damned if you dont.

[Semantics]

I was reading an article recently about how many employers now ask about social networking sites while interviewing. The two most popular questions asked of applicants were:

Do you belong to a social or public networking site?

Have you made or authorized any other public internet postings during the past year of your name, image, or commentary? Do you have any concerns about the impact of these postings on your potential employers?



I know someone who was fired for using his work email address to post a comment on a news article. I don't blame the employer at all, and it just goes to show that we need to be careful with what information we put out there.

[adorable]

Originally Posted by Semantics

I was reading an article recently about how many employers now ask about social networking sites while interviewing. The two most popular questions asked of applicants were:

Do you belong to a social or public networking site?

Have you made or authorized any other public internet postings during the past year of your name, image, or commentary? Do you have any concerns about the impact of these postings on your potential employers?



I know someone who was fired for using his work email address to post a comment on a news article. I don't blame the employer at all, and it just goes to show that we need to be careful with what information we put out there.

I know someone who worked for the county that was fired for using the work computer to do personal searches. I consider myself lucky to work for the person that I do and have absolute freedom when it comes to those things.

Who we are is so complicated that I wonder if we can ask people to not be who they are in order to work someplace. How does that line get drawn? Who gets to decide?

It's making my head hurt.

I think that what I do for a living is a big part of who I am, but it's not the only part. Yet I do represent my company. Where does our life start and work stop?

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by adorable

I am a manager with a staff of around 25.

I keep the lines very clear between myself and them. Even the appearance of impropriety can get you sued nowadays. I don't add anyone on my staff to my facebook - except my assistant cuz she's well, my assistant and we have worked together for years.

Most of my staff have facebook accounts and apparently all add each other.

A couple of days ago one of my supervisors went to my assistant and told her that one of the staff has been posting "things" on their FB about work. My assistant told me. I searched his name and sure enough I could see his wall.

Wow. Just wow. This mild mannered, seemingly shy person wasn't at all how they appeared to me. And had lots of opinions about the way things are done around here. lol. Now that type of bitching I have no problem with - I am used to people thinking they know better then I do. What I do have a problem with is that he's called in sick and sure enough - he was at concerts. The pictures are there for the world to see.

The other disturbing thing was the WAY that he was bitching. We have some pretty clear cut rules about the way things are done here. There are good reasons for them. He clearly violates the ones that he doesn't think matter. We are dealing with people's money. We are dealing with people. Lots of people. Lots of money.

I also found out that he is planning on moving in a couple of months. That was good to know.

I then PM'd him in FB and suggested that he change his privacy settings.

I have only read about this type of thing happening and people getting fired for it. I wouldn't fire him for it because....well he's leaving anyway apparently and the poor thing isn't smart enough to navigate his privacy settings. I also don't think it rises to the level of being fired over it either. Or does it?

Is it just stupidity? Don't we all or haven't we all called in sick (well back in the day when I had jobs where you could call in sick to) to go and goof off?

There are things that I like about my job and things I don't. I don't post things that I'm not ok with everyone knowing. When I'm having a bad day, even if it's work related, I am not going to post something that might keep me from getting paid tomorrow.


I am always saddened by disloyalty. It happens in a lot of different ways in management by people that you think you know because you spend so much time together. It actually happens outside of work with people you think you really know.

Anyway, he is here today. He is kissing my ass and not making eye contact. I think I was angry and now I'm just at that place of *sigh* if that makes sense. I feel like I need to address the rules issue with him and ignore the rest at the very least. There is a part of me that would rather just fire him. Then another part of me that is thinking - if I didn't know....ugh.


I'm not sure what my topic is but there has to be one in here somewhere.

EPIC FAIL!!!! LOL

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by adorable

The other disturbing thing was the WAY that he was bitching. We have some pretty clear cut rules about the way things are done here. There are good reasons for them. He clearly violates the ones that he doesn't think matter. We are dealing with people's money. We are dealing with people. Lots of people. Lots of money.

I also found out that he is planning on moving in a couple of months. That was good to know.

He may be moving, but he's screwed himself with any potential employers who check his facebook page.

[Miss Scarlett]

It seems that many people, for whatever reason, are not very careful what they put on sites like Facebook and MySpace. We use info from those 2 sites, Twitter and several others as evidence in nearly every case these days. Employers, schools, etc. check people out on these sites and on the web all the time. I routinely check clients, opposing parties, potential witnesses, etc. for every case we take. I also check myself regularly to see what is out there and remove what I can.

Last month a young woman here in Charlotte lost her job because of what she posted on her Facebook page. She worked in a local restaurant and some customers stayed way past lunch, meaning she had to stay late and then left her a small tip. Needless to say she was annoyed and shared her feelings on her Facebook page.

According to the story in our local paper: "The managers at XXXXX called her in a day or two later, she says. They showed her a copy of her Facebook comments and told her she was being fired for violating company policy against speaking disparagingly about customers. A XXXXX official said she also violated a second policy against casting the restaurant in a negative light on social networks."

After this story ran it took on a life of its own (as seems to be the norm these days). Then the young woman complained, in the media, about all the media attention and asked for people to stop talking about it. An interesting request given that she was the one who contacted the media to report the incident in the first place. Wonder if she (or anyone else) learned anything from this?????

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...tress-her.html

[Medusa]

My BOSS friended me on Facebook about 3 weeks ago.

I havent friended him back yet and am feeling kinda guilty about it.

[Cowboi]

Originally Posted by Medusa

My BOSS friended me on Facebook about 3 weeks ago.

I havent friended him back yet and am feeling kinda guilty about it.

My OR manager friended me. I accepted, then later deleted her. I dont think she ever knew!!! roflmao

[Julie]

Originally Posted by Medusa

My BOSS friended me on Facebook about 3 weeks ago.

I havent friended him back yet and am feeling kinda guilty about it.

Which is why I have two (really four lol) accounts. My personal one, which my friends are on and my work one. I certainly could not have my work and personal intermingle... ever!

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by InfiniteFemme

Which is why I have two (really four lol) accounts. My personal one, which my friends are on and my work one. I certainly could not have my work and personal intermingle... ever!

Part of me really understands this and I'm not in any way judging you for doing what you feel you need to do. But on the other hand it saddens and frustrates me.

I'd had a Facebook account for a while before I began using it. When I did start using it I only used it to help keep in contact with my long distance girlfriend. I never accepted friend requests from anyone I worked with. Well, actually, anyone at all.

Then slowly I began understanding how important it is for me to live authentically without compartmentalizing different aspects of me. I don't talk about my sex life and I don't bitch about my work (beyond an occasional "man, what a day" comment now and again). Keeping in mind the basic tenets of what is appropriate for public consumption I'm able to navigate both my personal and professional lives. Granted, I don't friend professional contacts whom I've not met in person.

And.... when I really need to keep a comment from someone, or someones I simply filter it with the Facebook tools - for lists, etc.

[RockOn]

I am not a fan of Facebook. I tried it and it was fun to begin with but then it started requiring too much everyday maintenance to keep up with everyone's postings and remarks. Then, if I neglected or accidentally overlooked someone's post and did not respond, they would get their feelings hurt.

Facebook is a total waste of my time.

I can see where it has caused many people much trouble. Same goes for other similar sites too. I would rather meet a friend face to face for dinner than spend endless hours on Facebook jockeying to be the most clever, the smartest, etc. one in my little group. Maybe if I did not work then I might feel differently - who knows??? Anyway, I know I am much better in person with people than I am in any given online situation. Really not too good online at all. One bad choice in my wording (might be just one typed word) can pull me into typing for hours trying to explain that is not what I meant. It is very frustrating for me when I have hurriedly chosen a wrong word in my description of something. But then, that is just me and my take on things.

[Greyson]

I tried Facebook for about a week, maybe. I was bombarded with Farm Animal stuff. I keep my account primarily dormant. When I am doing research and know maybe Facebook can help, I reactivate my account, go in, do my business and reset my account to "Deactivate."

[NJFemmie]

Frankly, I think they all suck a little. Nothing is private anymore. Between Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, blah blah ... it's amazing how some people in the world can't function without knowing when someone flushes a toilet.

I have a facebook page - but I keep it private and with little information. I never post anything about work, and if I do complain about something, I keep it ambiguous. Lately, all I've been posting are pictures of Max (our new fuzzie baby). Outside of that, I have actually thought about deleting it.

[Bit]

*tilts head, thinking*

I don't think I can delete my facebook. It helps me feel connected to people who are really important to me. I hid all the apps and games, so what I see on fb is what those I care about are talking about. It's sorta like a giant expanded version of the Dear thread.

[rlin]

Originally Posted by Bit

*tilts head, thinking*

I don't think I can delete my facebook. It helps me feel connected to people who are really important to me. I hid all the apps and games, so what I see on fb is what those I care about are talking about. It's sorta like a giant expanded version of the Dear thread.

i think youre right bit... its the way i stay connected to folks i have lost...
and also...
i live in a really small town... sadly about 80% of the folks i went to school with are really conservative christians... at least 10 or 12 of them are on my friends list... i try really hard to educated them since i know they must never get anything but fox brand of the news... i am sure that i am prolly just giving most of them something to gossip and pray about... but... if i get thru to one of them... im happy... so... i will keep plugging away at their ignorant armor... and keep staying in touch with my real buddies...
i think fb is evil... but its the only option right now... i heard there was oing to be an open source site that didnt sell all your info... but.. unfortunately... i havent heard it in a while...

[FlowerFem]

I loathe facebook. I cancelled my account. Facebook is a boil on the butt of humanity .

[pajama]

Originally Posted by Semantics

I was reading an article recently about how many employers now ask about social networking sites while interviewing. The two most popular questions asked of applicants were:

Do you belong to a social or public networking site?

Have you made or authorized any other public internet postings during the past year of your name, image, or commentary? Do you have any concerns about the impact of these postings on your potential employers?

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

He may be moving, but he's screwed himself with any potential employers who check his facebook page.

We just covered this in a case in my Master program a couple of weeks ago. It actually is becoming a lawsuit issue if an employer makes a hiring decision based on your social sites. Not saying they don't do it, just saying if they make it known that they didn't hire someone for something they found on the internet or FB, etc. They are finding themselves vulnerable to lawsuits.

Originally Posted by InfiniteFemme

Which is why I have two (really four lol) accounts. My personal one, which my friends are on and my work one. I certainly could not have my work and personal intermingle... ever!

That's a clever idea Infinite. I don't put anything on my FB that I wouldn't disclose in person. So pretty much, I post everything and anything. I am just as forward and outspoken in person as on my FB. Now at an interview I am the picture of professional accountant. But aren't we all something we usually are not at the initial interview? LOL

Also, depending on the field you are in, you can very quickly be terminated for your postings on social sights. I work at a hospital. People will inadvertantly post comments that they don't even realize are violations to HIPPA and quickly get canned.

A