Facebook; should you, or shouldn’t you

[the wiz]

I had a discussion with a friend concerning slander, and if an employee has the right to slam their work place and its employees on a social website.

A co-worker of ours decided to post her feelings about her job and the people she works with on Facebook. It just so happen, a friend, of a friend, of a friend who works in the same company saw it; she told someone else that works here.

It ended up at the desk of the director of the organization; the director is making a decision to see if she wants to ban the site from our network or not. I have to say this; there is no evidence that the soon to be ex-employee used company resources to make the post. Nor, can they provide she done it before, during, or after work.

My friend and I are at a loggerhead; he said that making a neglect comments about someone on a social networking site was consider slander. In addition, she do not have the right to write negative comments concerning her place of employment, nor her co-workers on a social website.

I believe that making a knowingly false statement or making a statement which you have no firsthand knowledge about is considered slander. In addition, she has every right to post what she feels concerning her place of employment and its workers on the site.


The one thing we both agree on is, she will be fired.

What do you think?

Should she?

Shouldn't she?

No Rights?

Every Right?

 

[leafstk]

I don't think FB, MSN or other social networking tools have any place in the workplace... unless they are being utilized specifically for business purposes.

I never went out of my way to "ban" its use... like what someone does on their break is their business. Just don't do it on company time.

And if you're dumb enough to make comments about co-workers or your boss/job on FB and think it won't come back to nip ya in the butt... here's yet another shiny example.

 

[Angel77]

I don't think FB, MSN or other social networking tools have any place in the workplace... unless they are being utilized specifically for business purposes.

I never went out of my way to "ban" its use... like what someone does on their break is their business. Just don't do it on company time.

And if you're dumb enough to make comments about co-workers or your boss/job on FB and think it won't come back to nip ya in the butt... here's yet another shiny example.

Exactly this. They banned social networking sites at my old job for this reason alone. And I was fine with it......there was no need for me to be on Facebook while I had work piled up on my desk, they weren't paying me for playing around. Anything you say or do on the internet nowadays has the possiblity to come back and bite you in the ass.....if not now, perhaps later on down the road. I've heard a few stories now where employers check FB/MySpace pages for information. I do think that's taking it a bit far because I believe that SHOULD be your own personal space but it still doesn't change the fact that they do it. It's wrong but it happens all of the time. It sucks that one can't really vent using current technology without it coming back on them but unfortunately that's how it is. Is it really worth losing your job over finding out what your FB friend had for lunch or that they got a great deal while Christmas shopping or that someone didn't sleep well the night before or hey, that they just made blueberry muffins and their place smells SUPER!?!? That can't wait until you get home???

 

[vladtickleman22]

I agree with Leaf. People shouldn't be on social networking sites or any other site non work related for that matter while at work. You're there to work not to mess around on the internet.

Sure she has the right to express her own opinion. But she should have realized it was on a website available to the public. Where anyone could see it. Including her boss/bosses/co-workers/friends/family and everybody on her friends list and their friends.

 

[JJB]

The above posts have said it well. While you're on company time, you're there to do what the company asks of you... and usually it doesn't include being on Facebook. If you can't wait that long to post something, then you need to step back and take a break from it.

As for the risk of posting something about your boss, the employee you hate, or somebody else, consider if any of the "friends" you've added would say anything about it. There are a lot of people on Facebook that end up being "friend collectors" and then wonder why one of their 1,500 "friends" told their boss that they hated their job and ended up getting fired. Too bad, so sad. Set your privacy settings to something different for those you work with on a daily basis, or just don't say it at all.

 

[Saeria]

What I'm most curious about is how can someone complain about a job that allows them any kind of time to mess around on the internet? There are days at my work in which I've been slammed busy for 12 straight, and other days in which there was nothing to do but read a book or doodle on paper (on the clock mind you, i get paid just for being there). Now given I don't have access to a computer at my job, but even if I did I don't think I'd do any kind of libelous dealings there or at home for that matter.

Yeah, a good firing is in order as is killing the whole FB/MS thing. If there is still such a need to make issues known, perhaps give employees a renewed sense of importance in their opinions so they don't feel the need to air it out in unnecessary ways.

P.S. Since it was in FB, would it still be slander or considered libel?

 

[moose]

freedom of speech end of story

 

[Angel77]

You're all missing the point. It's not about surfing facebook on the job. It's about making questionable public statements about your company. Most companies will terminate your ass even if you do this from home.

No, I got that point. I was also elaborating on what else could possibly happen.

 

[vladtickleman22]

You're all missing the point. It's not about surfing facebook on the job. It's about making questionable public statements about your company. Most companies will terminate your ass even if you do this from home.

Which is why i pointed out she should have realized she was posting her thoughts on a website where anyone on her friends list could see it. That is what lead/is leading to her getting fired.

 

[the wiz]

I read everyones post; first, i would like to say thank you for your comments. Everyone assumes she did it on company's time, using company's resources. It has not been proven she did either.

My supervisor asked me if it was possible to block the site, I informed her it was. However, we are powerless to stop them if they use their own cell phone or laptop with a broadband card to reach Facebook.

I don't approve or disapprove of people going onto these sites as long as it doesn't effect the speed of the network. Nor, do I care what she post on them; it's not my responsibility.

 

[Sandrock74]

Never post negative things about the workplace on a public forum such as facebook, myspace, twitter, etc. This can (and most likely will) be used to terminate you when it is found out. Most places nowadays have specific mention of such a thing in the contract you sign for employment.

Always set your security settings so only your "friends" have access to anything on your page, and keep work off of it. Do that, and all is fine.

 

[Goodieluver]

Why are people even using Facebook from work

Shouldn't they be, I don't know, working?

 

[Goodieluver]

freedom of speech end of story

Is not absolute.

Simply saying freedom of speech does not mean you can say WHATEVER you want WHEREVER you want. Internet at a job for "non work" needs is a privilege, not a right even tho the current generation who grew up with broadband may think otherwise

 

[Coup de Grace]

Geez... Why would you post your feelings about your job and co-workers on a public site with your REAL NAME?!? Even if all your settings are private, it could still get back to someone else. It only takes one person to screw up a good thing for everyone else.

Regarding her employment status, if she posted that message during work time, she'll be in a heap of trouble. Even if she did it on her own time, the company will probably go out of their way to get rid of her knowing how she feels about the job and people... and they won't even need a reason as with most employement agreements, the company can terminate employment at any time without reason.

 

[BlackestLily]

Well you have the freedom to say whatever you want...but I can't say it'll turn out well in your favor. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[Snail Shell]

Most places are instituting policies now where posting anything negative about them by their employees on sites like Facebook is grounds for termination. Just sayin'.

Snail Shell

 

[the wiz]

we live in a "AT WILL" state; which means we can be fired at anytime for almost any reason

 

[DimpleToes]

Never post negative things about the workplace on a public forum such as facebook, myspace, twitter, etc. This can (and most likely will) be used to terminate you when it is found out. Most places nowadays have specific mention of such a thing in the contract you sign for employment.

Always set your security settings so only your "friends" have access to anything on your page, and keep work off of it. Do that, and all is fine.

Well you have the freedom to say whatever you want...but I can't say it'll turn out well in your favor. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

I agree with allthe above.. you should not be playing around on company time and you need to watch what you post out there in the public.. for it may bite you in the butt

 

[grandizer]

freedom of speech end of story

This exactly!

 

[vladtickleman22]

This exactly!

You're both absolutely right. She has freedom of speech. Her office also has the freedom to can her ass for saying those things.

 

[giantfan121262]

There is a saying "loose lips sink ships" in this case she is using a social network to seal her fate. I think that posting negative feelings about your livlihood "out there" for people to see is a colossal mistake. You just don't know who is going to catch wind of the comments. Let me ask you this; would you say those thoughts at an office or holiday party with the boss possibly in earshot? I don't think so unless you have a penchant for unemployment.

Also, IMHO, Facebook has no place in the business world unless it's intended for business. I think the boss has every right to ban the site from the network. It's only a distraction if it's for personal use (in most cases).

This person who posted put herself in a no win situation. Either she gets fired or she stays on and is treated like the company leper.

 

[tommytikl]

freedom of speech end of story

Can also be end of job.

The Philadelphia Eagles fired someone last year over getting upset when they let Brian Dawkins walk away.

I also believe FB should be blocked unless their is a business need for it. Similar to Fantasy Football sites and other non-work related sites.

You can post what you want on Facebook but don't be surprised when it comes back around to the office.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Look, you can argue about whether they have the right, or should have the right to govern what you say about the company on your own time, on a social networking site, till you're blue in the face. The thing is, they're firing people. They don't care about what you think about what rights they have, you don't have the wherewithal to take legal action, while they have all the wherewithal on the planet to block it. In the real world, might really does make right. And, they don't like employees who bite the hands that feed them. Cyber footprints are coming back to haunt the people who leave them- you're applying for a job with, say, Goldman Sachs, and they don't think you're mature enough to handle the position you're applying for because they found pictures of you clowning around at a frat party, walking around naked, carrying around a red cup, wearing some loud necktie purchased at TJ Maxx for two dollars.

Talk is cheap, so's righteous indignation. Corporate rules the world. Period.

 

[Angel77]

Look, you can argue about whether they have the right, or should have the right to govern what you say about the company on your own time, on a social networking site, till you're blue in the face. The thing is, they're firing people. They don't care about what you think about what rights they have, you don't have the wherewithal to take legal action, while they have all the wherewithal on the planet to block it. In the real world, might really does make right. And, they don't like employees who bite the hands that feed them. Cyber footprints are coming back to haunt the people who leave them- you're applying for a job with, say, Goldman Sachs, and they don't think you're mature enough to handle the position you're applying for because they found pictures of you clowning around at a frat party, walking around naked, carrying around a red cup, wearing some loud necktie purchased at TJ Maxx for two dollars.

Talk is cheap, so's righteous indignation. Corporate rules the world. Period.

It's unfortunate but you're correct. And it's not just the internet that seems to be haunting people.....television too. I was recently reading an article about a girl that appears on those "Girls Gone Wild" tapes and they keep using her image at 3am to sell the vids. She wants to be removed because she says it's ruining her chances of going to law school but she signed a release so I don't know what's going to happen? I guess being that she signed the release, they can use her image how they want? Not sure how that works. Anyways, going back to the original question.....do I think it's wrong that employers would use pictures of you from say, a party back in 1998 against you? Of course I do. But it happens. And they don't have to necessarily claim that's why they're letting you go either. Here in PA, we're under the "right to hire, right to fire," meaning they can pretty much fire you just because "they find no use for you anymore."

 

[Goodieluver]

This exactly!

Go up to your boss and call him a fuck face

then say "Free speech!" and see what happens