Someone never outgrew the "I'm Telling!" stage

[WishfulSpirit]

Hi everyone

So yesterday I'm at work, doing my Front Desk thing, when I get a call from a woman who wants a manager. I ask what the issue is so I can connect her to the right person. She says "one of your employees has some disgusting things posted on Facebook and I want to complain." I put her through to the FOM.

Ok, what? Yes, I'm aware that employees do need to be careful what they post, make sure their security settings are on Friends Only, exc. Also, since this is a former employee who apparently never updated his employment, and is not on my friends list, I have no idea whether he had political posts she was intellectually opposed to vrs, say, "Puppy Kicker Society" or something.

That said, you disagree with what someone puts on Facebook and take it on yourself to call their boss? Really? Anyone else you'd like to tattle on like a toddler today?

[Mr Hero]

What stands out to me is why is she checking out the person's Facebook page to begin with?

[Foxbite]

Probably mad the employee didn't let her use a home-printed expired out-of-state coupon for the wrong product.

[eltf177]

Agreed, there's something way off here...

[Pixelated]

Yeah, I'm wondering about this too. Who goes looking up the FB pages of people in the businesses they deal with? There's got to be more here than meets the eye, even with the repeated warnings about "Watch what you put out there in public."

[raw1989]

well if its a former employee how did she even find the persons profile sounds like they know each other and she is trying to get him fired for revenge or something.

[csquared]

There are numerous reason why she could have seen ex-employee's post. However, unless the post was somehow detrimental to the business, calling the business to complain is uncalled for.

[WishfulSpirit]

Based on what was said (the phrase "he has you listed as his employer"), my guess is a personal issue that someone decided needed to be avenged. From what I hear of office scuttlebutt, this particular employee was far from ideal and had poor judgement (maybe why he's a former employee).

That said, if you have a problem with what someone says on Facebook, you report it to Facebook. The only time I think it would be merited to call someone's boss is if it's business related. For example, if someone on my staff posted "I stole the keys to the liquor cage at work and got totally smashed!" or something like that, I'd appreciate a tip from a member of the public.

[greek_jester]

However, unless the post was somehow detrimental to the business, calling the business to complain is uncalled for.

I can think of one occasion where someone's non work-related Facebook post got them fired.

A few years back a young accountant from Norwich, Norfolk, UK knocked a cyclist off of their bike (said cyclist wasn't badly hurt, just a few scratches and bruises). The accountant posted something along the lines of "they shouldn't have been on the road anyway" (I can't recall the exact quote). It actually made the national news, and since her Facebook account was open to all and she'd listed her place of work (which got mentioned a couple of times on some of the news reports) she was fired for bringing the firm into disrepute.

[Blue Ginger]

she was fired for bringing the firm into disrepute.

And that is why, people, you never list your place of work. And set things to friends only.

[An Haddock]

I can think of one occasion where someone's non work-related Facebook post got them fired.

A few years back a young accountant from Norwich, Norfolk, UK knocked a cyclist off of their bike (said cyclist wasn't badly hurt, just a few scratches and bruises). The accountant posted something along the lines of "they shouldn't have been on the road anyway" (I can't recall the exact quote). It actually made the national news, and since her Facebook account was open to all and she'd listed her place of work (which got mentioned a couple of times on some of the news reports) she was fired for bringing the firm into disrepute.

Something like this just happened a couple of weeks ago. Some idiot got in a Twitter fight with comedian Patton Oswalt over Patton's progressive views and really hit below the belt when he said he was posting as Patton's dead wife.

Problem was that he was using his WORK Twitter account to do it. And people pounced on the guy, complaining to the real estate company he worked for, for employing such a scumbag. He was fired.

[csquared]

I said that it was uncalled for, not that it does not happen.

Most times when you hear about it on the news, it is a matter of the post going viral, not an individual "tattling".

[greek_jester]

And that is why, people, you never list your place of work.

This case actually got that rule added to our staff handbook

[taxguykarl]

Far from new...hence this classic which spawned a war story.

[raw1989]

And that is why, people, you never list your place of work. And set things to friends only.

I did at one point and then they made a point here if we list them be careful what you post wile my post are set to friends it made me think again so I removed them from my page so that nothing happens also if u want to talk bad about your employer you may not want to list them as such I have known a few people to get fired for talking bad about there place of work.