Work owns me and my words 24/7

[JLG]

Last night at work I received a final written warning about not posting ANYTHING about work on social networks. (facebook and twitter)

It turns out a co-worker I was friends with on facebook didn't like it when I complained in general about work. I never put names of people and she figured out what situation I was talking about and what person and for some reason decided to go to the manager. It was over a certain situation but obviously I can't say what here.

The manager warned me a few weeks ago but she was vague and I thought she was talking about in store situations and she wrote me up.

Well last night she wrote me up again and said this is my final warning. I can't discuss anything about people from work on social networks.

She even showed me something that we all signed (and didn't read all the way) about the company having a right to go to places like facebook and twitter and looking at our private accounts

All of us at work (some people got talked to as well) were not aware of this when we signed something about privacy last year.

I feel like my work owns me 24/7. I never put anything malicious or made up about co-workers on facebook. Just the usual frustrations.

I know who this person is because she deleted me from facebook a few days ago and I found it odd because she barely posted at all on her own wall or on mine. It seems like the manager told her she should delete people from work that "bothered" her.

Now I have to go to work and not talk to anybody unless it is work related. I can't risk it. I need my job.

It amazes me how ONE person that is offended or takes what you say the wrong way can mess up your life. I feel like I don't have the freedom to write what I want. Now I have to cut most co-workers out of my life. I can't risk anything else. It will be sad but this is my job and staying away from everyone is the only way it seems I can be 100% sure my name is out of everything. I have a co-worker that calls me everyday to complain about work and I have to tell her today that she can't do that anymore.

Thank goodness my best friend is not a co-worker cause she will be my ONLY outlet from now on!

[fma_fanatic]

I know you're not going to like what I have to say, but it's the truth: This is the cost of being able to network with people these days. Companies do think they own you 24/7, and if you signed something without reading..well..then the onus will eventually fall on you to make sure you know what you're signing to begin with.

I'm sure you might remember an article that popped up last year about a city in Montana that thought it'd be okay to ask applicants for their social network logins and passwords. They changed their minds about it later, but the fact is, if employers are going to have the balls to ask for it, then it only stands to reason that it's only a matter of time before they start snooping.

That being the case, my employer would find me boring since I don't post much on my Facebook, I haven't looked at my MySpace page in over a year and I don't have a Twitter account. Anything that has to do with work goes here or is vented to DDD. That's the best you can probably do, other than write it down in a private journal and keep it hidden under your mattress.

[Android Kaeli]

This is one of the reasons why I don't put anything work-related on my Facebook page, because 3/4ths of the people I have on my friend's list are either current co-workers or former co-workers. Can't risk getting fired over a vent that has nothing to do with the people on the list, need the job.

[wraiths_crono]

That is the reason I have only one co-worker on my FB, and that's because her and I have known each other for 3 different jobs, the only time you get added to my FB is when I no longer work with you, but still are friends outside or work (few exceptions) I always get funny looks tho when my company merged with a different one this year when I refused to allow anyone there my FB info.

[Skeksin]

If you are in the states this might lead into impinging upon your first amendment rights. Freedom of Speech. You aren't saying anything about them at work and you are doing so on your own time on a forum that isn't theirs. Doing so on your own time.

[Whiskey]

If you are in the states this might lead into impinging upon your first amendment rights. Freedom of Speech. You aren't saying anything about them at work and you are doing so on your own time on a forum that isn't theirs. Doing so on your own time.

He signed a contract stating he wouldn't write about his place of employment, good or bad, on any social networking sites. He violated the contract. Its completely legal. Walmart has the exact same contract for its employees.

protip: read what you sign.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If you are in the states this might lead into impinging upon your first amendment rights. Freedom of Speech.

That applies to the government only. Not private businesses. And freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences my speech may bring.

I.E. I can't be arrested for saying my boss is a big poopyhead, but my boss is perfectly free to fire me for saying he's a big poopyhead.

[telecom_goddess]

My job has social media policies in place now too...and I don't say negative stuff about my job or company on fb anyway. BUT I still think it's bullshit that they can fire you over something on your own personal account. That is my business not theirs.

[Andara Bledin]

It may be worth speaking with your local labor board to see if this is a legal thing, if you don't specifically identify where you work.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time a big company tried to browbeat their employees illegally.

Otherwise, I keep my work frustrations to things that can't be traced, such as private chat with friends or posts on here, which Bosslady not only knows about, but to some degree endorses. And people still don't understand why I don't leave for someplace that will pay me more.

^-.-^

[Dave1982]

Let's stick to specific advice for the OP and keep the general discussion of the First Amendment and how it works to Fratching, please.

[JLG]

This entire situation is a huge lesson learned for me!

I know now that I can't vent about work or add people from work on my facebook.

Everyone at work that signed that paper did not bother to read the entire thing. We just listened to the basics of what it was and signed. Yes that was stupid on all of our parts. Trust me that now I will read carefully everything at work.

I just have to take this experience and learn from it and move on. I have one more chance and trust me that I will not let it happen again.

I got carried away with facebook and twitter so now I need to back away from it all for awhile.

Oh and I am a girl

[Mytical]

You will always have here to vent. Just remember to keep most of your details private. No real names, and obscure the name of the place you work for.

[BlaqueKatt]

Everyone at work that signed that paper did not bother to read the entire thing. We just listened to the basics of what it was and signed. Yes that was stupid on all of our parts. Trust me that now I will read carefully everything at work.

I once had a boss that wanted to instill in us the habit of reading everything we signed. He would insert random things into the employee paperwork and if we signed it he'd get mad and point out what we had just signed.

A few examples:

By signing this document I agree to answer only to the name "Esmerelda" and will legally change my name to such.

By signing this document I agree that I have not read one word of it and will sign anything put in front of me.

I, the undersigned, am the walrus, coo-coo Kachoo.

By signing this document I hereby grant Company permanent ownership of my soul and Boss dominion over my left shoe-which I will now hand over with all due speed.


I agree to work unpaid 24 hour shifts in all months ending with the letter Q.

yeah he was a fun guy to work for...

[Hyndis]

Always, always read everything you sign. Before you sign it.

If the person gets fussy that you're not hurrying up and signing it, point out the fact that you will read all binding contracts before signing them.

Never agree with any contract without knowing what the contract says. That is just asking for trouble.

[bainsidhe]

Yes, lesson learned and all that. But a suggestion I have is to go and remove the "offending" comments now. Because at anytime your boss/corporate/whomever could change their mind, decide it's a fireable offense, and get you canned. Not saying it's right or wrong, just not worth the risk. Besides, anytime your coworker sees your comments, she will get all bothered again and you risk another complaint. I would err on the side of caution and assume your writeup is a demand that you stop ALL online chitchat about work. That includes things you've already posted and that they may/may not have seen.