Fired because of Facebook???

Nurses General Nursing

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I heard through the grapevine that two RN's at a hospital were fired yesterday over a thread that they participated in on Facebook....:confused: I do know that the posts were not made during their working hours but can not say EXACTLY what was said in these posts...but how on earth could that be legal if they posted what ever they did on their OWN time? I do know it was not Mediaographic in nature.....I'm just in shock. Anyone have heard of this happening or have any thoughts:eek:

Specializes in Cardiac, Thoracic, Vsg, ENT, GU.
"You never screw the hand that feeds you.":nurse:

this is a quote I just made up...."UNTIL you grow eyes in the back of your head, be forever watchful over your shoulder." Like that?:yeah:

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery; Neurosciences.

I assume this is all related to what you post in your statuses? I never speak of patients or specifics, nor do I speak of my place of employment negatively, so this is not what concerns me. But it brings another thought to consider.

My question is, can an employer fire you based on your lifestyle? For instance, let's say you've "Liked" the place of employment, and now they can see all of your stuff. That include pictures you're tagged in at parties you've gone to, things your friends have written on your wall, etc.

Could something like "party pictures" be enough for an employer to fire you? (I'm not talking illegal drugs, nudity, or committing crimes.) I could see them doing it and saying, "You are not the type of person we want representing our facility." However, if you are not violating HIPPA or mentioning anything about work other than the occasional "Had a rewarding day!" or "Busy day - Glad to be home!" I don't really see why this would pose an issue, in my opinion.

I realize this could be completely different dependent on the facility, but I am just innocently asking for some input.

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

My question is, can an employer fire you based on your lifestyle? For instance, let's say you've "Liked" the place of employment, and now they can see all of your stuff. That include pictures you're tagged in at parties you've gone to, things your friends have written on your wall, etc.

Could something like "party pictures" be enough for an employer to fire you? (I'm not talking illegal drugs, nudity, or committing crimes.) I could see them doing it and saying, "You are not the type of person we want representing our facility." However, if you are not violating HIPPA or mentioning anything about work other than the occasional "Had a rewarding day!" or "Busy day - Glad to be home!" I don't really see why this would pose an issue, in my opinion.

I realize this could be completely different dependent on the facility, but I am just innocently asking for some input.

Yes, people have been fired for things like this - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354515/Teacher-sacked-posting-picture-holding-glass-wine-mug-beer-Facebook.html

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Specializes in Acute long term, clinical, office, etc.

Our hospital just recently instilled a policy that no supervisor or staff of administration can accept friend requests on any social network site. We were in formed that our company has specialized technical staff members that are paid to scan and oversee social networks to observe for improper chatting. We were informed that our hospital can, will and have already fired staff members who were chatting on Face book, and have mentioned our hospital name in a derogatory fashion.The hospital can and will sue those individuals for slander. Many of us feel it is invasion of privacy and amendment right to prohibit staff from chatting on such networks.However, using it on the hospital's time, their INTERNET feed or making derogatory comments is inappropriate and I agree with their penalty for that.I feel staff should use it on their own time and be cautious on how they complain about their employer.I initially removed all upper management but then after some discussion, friend requests were accepted.We are cautious to what we say.It benefits to see these persons outside of their work persona.If I have a complaint about the company, I could email or better yet,discuss in person.

So be mindful and know not only may your hospital be overseeing but our government has also been known to as well.

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I have 3 co workers on my FB friend list. I have no supers, managers, ect. I also don't have the office drama starters either. I have my FB set to private/only friends and only friends can see my posts. No friends of friends can see what I post on their wall unless they are a mutual friend. I one time posted that I was at that crazy place again. One of my co worker friends told me that I shouldn't post that because of where we work. I asked her if I had mentioned any names or where it was that we work? No so there fore no one would have any idea what I was talking about...whether that crazy place was a physical place or a mental state of mind.

A HIPPA violation is a violation whether it be on FB or in the hosp cafeteria.

I believe it is wrong and abuse of power, not to mention an invasion of privacy to fire someone over their FB posts. That's like your supervisor/manager coming to your house uninvited and you are having a party and you answer the door drunk with a beer in one hand, a cigarette in the other and your neighbor is there who just got out of the hospital (where you work) a week ago and you are bad mouthing your place of employment. Could they legally fire you for that ??

What you do on your off time is no one's business, if you call in you don't need to tell them why. Unless you have a medical reason why you can't work for a week. (I was told that by a nursing super when I called in and tried to tell her why. She told me that I don't have to tell them why and they can't ask why).

I have a friend who is a an RN and she will post about her work as she will refer to it as "that place that shall remain nameless" . She has never violated HIPPA...although she will post some things as having a pt code or having to go to CT every other hour. But if you dont' know where she works or what floor she works on..ect. Then you would have no idea what she is taking about. This same RN has Dr's on her FB list. Does hospital administration ever look at Dr. FB pages ?? Wasn't it not to long ago they wanted to tweet from the OR to keep the family informed on how the surgery was going ??

Whether it's new and cool or merely yicky, observers say there's no question that more and more doctors -- and patients -- will be sharing the blow-by-blow of medical procedures on sites like Twitter and Facebook.
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-17/tech/twitter.surgery_1_twitter-and-facebook-social-networking-site-twitter-tweeted?_s=PM:TECH

personally I see this as more of a HIPPA violation than what a nurse posts on her FB about a workplace vent.

Last I checked Twitter didn't have as many privacy options as FB does. Which is why I don't tweet. Anyone can follow you on Twitter.

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Question,

I know it was stupid but I posted that I'll be putting in my two weeks before talking to my manager. I've never said a bad word about the company and know better than to violate HIPPA. I deleted the post because a coworker messaged me and said people were being fired for posting about work on facebook. I know it's in poor taste that I posted it, but a terminable offense? Like I said I already have another job, but I just don't want any bad marks on my resume if I ever chose to look for another job.

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Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

This is why I don't put where I work or discuss my job in any way, shape or form on FB, nor have I sent friend requests to my manager and co-workers. It's just too risky.

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Specializes in ICU.

I bad mouth my job daily on FB in hopes of getting fired. I kid you not. But the only person I friended from work I am close with. I refuse to friend my boss, my preceptor or the other MSW, because she's friendly with the boss.Although if I do.... Maybe I WILL get fired. Or they will make my life a living hell. Honestly, I do think if we chose to put our selves put there the way we do on FB we do run the risk of being fired due to what we post related to the job.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Instead, why not just resign? Why would you deliberately try to be fired? You may need a reference from this employer at some point.

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Specializes in ICU.

I need the income. I would need unemployment, I can't resign. Anyways, it's not why openly air my grievances with the job from hell. I was just kidding. But I'm not trying to hide it for the sake of not getting fired, let's put it that way.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Ok. Where I live, you need a very good reason to collect UI when you are fired. Usually, they would deny the claim for anyone who is fired, at least in my area.

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Specializes in ICU.

No, you get get unemployment if you are fired for mostly everything, except misconduct, illegal stuff.I would like to keep this as a reference, yes. I have people within the company who would provide me one either way. The job has taken a mental and physical toll on me, and I'd I could collect until something else comes through ( some are in the works). Life would be easier.But I'm trying to hold on for dear life until then.Let's put it this way. I have been exposed to the flu up and down without a shot. No flu. I am taking a mental health vacation week this week ( which required 6 hours this past weekend at the office to finish paperwork and I wasn't paid for it). And I very sadly hope I get some flu like symptoms Sunday night to keep me out of work and buy me some time.Now, how sad is that?????But that's a whole other thread, not this one.But you put yourself out on FB, you take a risk. Nothing is private anymore.

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