Employees and facebook negativity

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

As social networking becomes more prominent everywhere I have run into new situations that I have no experience with. I disciplined an employee and she proceeded to her Facebook account to do some serious "employer bashing". She never mentioned the company by name, but mentioned coworkers by name and stirred up some serious drama on my unit. Have any of you encountered this before and how did you address social networking etiquette with the rest of the staff?

[funfunfun550, BSN, RN]

You company should have a policy on social networking...sounds like she is in violation of what I would consider any basic policy about social networking.. I am going to try to find something to pm u?>?I have encountered MANY coworkers violating our policy it is just a matter of time before it all comes crashing in..

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I could have written the same thing. I counseled someone today for what they posted on Facebook.

We have the same problem. I'm all for freedom of speech, but if you have a problem at work talk to your supervisor and don't act like a silly boob on Facebook. People want to be treated in a professional manner and then go and post some totally unprofessional blah blah blab on Facebook.

I have staff members in my office crying because of what someone posted. If you get that upset by what's on there, don't read it!

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

I was disappointed that someone could have such a negative effect on the floor without even being present. What really bothered me was the attitude that some of the staff had. As if they were victims of some sort of imagined oppression of free speech after I reminded them that what they post may be considered defamatory or libelous, and that they should think before feeding into negative discussions on FB. It's just lack of respect and courtesy online. If you wouldn't say it to a colleague while at work, don't post it!!

[NurseGuyBri]

I have mixed emotions on this. On one hand, it's unprofessional. On the other, staff NEED to vent. When someone posts something on FB or somewhere and it's noted (we keep tabs on that, so does corporate), we do 3 things. 1) Counseling (following handbook, verbal/written/term regardless of what they said. 2) request them remove it immediately. 3) educate on why and then determine what their concern was. It's almost always just a moment of frustration. Nursing is hard!!!!!! Give people some room but allow them to correct the problem. If it happens twice, you're out of luck. People forget that FB is not just a place to say anything you want and they're human. They get 1 chance with that. Also- I ensure that staff ALWAYS have a CLOSED ROOM to vent their concerns. We have open forum meetings that we hold informally with people from different departments. sometimes it seems like a bash meeting or a you-know-what fest, but it has been extremely effective. we always leave laughing and almost to good tears.

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

I believe that ranting and venting can be therapeutic and allow us to move on with our day, but once things are written their intent and context can be misinterpreted, and they become recorded. Ranting here is anonymous. No one knows who I am or where I work. FB is different. I welcome rants in my office. I can work with that. I can't help people who disparage the company and discredit their profession. It's sad to see some really great nursing staff commiserating in that way. It just brings everyone down.