I discovered a post on in a large, private nursing discussion group on a social media website.
The person posting works for the same organization that I do. I challenged that person and got REAMED for being a "rat". Am I wrong in thinking that I need to report a serious allegation made against the organization that I am a loyal employee? It was not just a vent or rant, there was an actionable allegation made.
I contacted the person's superior anonymously. Now I have to decide to take it further or not.
**not asking for legal advice. It has nothing to do with me or anywhere near where I work-it is a different entity entirely-but part of the bigger organization.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
But the point he is trying to make is, it's only libelous if it's not true. As you do not work at the specific place in question and do not have any personal knowledge of the situation, you are not in a place to judge that it's libelous.
Having been the victim of gossip on a fb post I made by a person who really was trying to stir things up (and was disseminating untruths), I understand some of the PP's outrage. However, I think what this instructor did was inappropriate and unprofessional, especially if her allegations then tainted new grads' decisions on whether to seek employment with your organization.
I think I would have messaged the instructor as the OP did but I'm not sure I would have taken it as far as reporting it. Without question, at my place of employment, that is grounds for immediate dismissal (I can't tell if this instructor is also employed by the hospital).
I don't think calling the OP a sociopath, pathological, etc is remotely helpful though. She did what she felt was right but making statements about her mental stability is a bit over the top.
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
Go utilize that graduate law degree
If you actually read the posts, I never said I had a graduate law degree. I have a Masters degree in another field and I have an undergraduate criminal justice degree.
A lawyer questioning my professional ethics? That's rich. (because they are never unethical or frivolous...)
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I don't think calling the OP a sociopath, pathological, etc is remotely helpful though. She did what she felt was right but making statements about her mental stability is a bit over the top.
I agree. I don't think I would have reacted the way the OP reacted (and I'm in Brandon's camp with questioning the "libel" label when the OP does not have firsthand knowledge of the person's situation). But I think people's responses to the OP are way over the top. This thread has been a bit surreal to me with the vehement reactions of some of the posters that seem WAY out of proportion to the "crime".
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.
Thank you. I know that if I could fully explain the situation, it might be easier to understand, but I am flabbergasted at the personal attacks and name calling. I have not accused any of them of anything but the reaction is quite defensive.
Lesson learned on my part. I guess if it isn't a post about ADN vs BSN or the PVT (or maybe "what are the best shoes") there can't be a discussion without name calling. I love discussions and other people's points of view, and I really was asking to share, not to be thrown under the bus and called all kinds of names. I think of the Shakespeare quote: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Some of the responses don't seem to match the situation.
Oh for God's sake, yes I do know the definition of libel and the difference between libel and slander (earlier post-I have a Criminal Justice degree). Here it is for all:
". Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander, which is oral defamation."
I READ it on FB. I don't have to know the parties involved personally. I do know what she posted, what her profile page says about where she works, and verified on the homepage of such workplace.
You may work on a great unit and your facility may be wonderful, but maybe the school component isn't. You yourself said that it's not that close to you and you've never met that person. What she said may bd true, even if in bad taste to put on fb. I work for a large healthcare system. Some of our facilities are much nicer with excellent staff and management. Others, not so much. Don't assume you know that persons work environment if you don't work at that specific locale, even if it is the same company. Different variables always factor in for every location
I was surprised to see this thread still alive, so I peeked back in.
OP, you wrote that you did not even KNOW the person who made the allegation of discrimination in hiring practices. You don't work at the facility she works in. You only work for the same conglomerate, as I understand it. Yet you say her statements were "libelous". Well....that's only true if she is telling a falsehood.....and YOU are not in the position to know for a fact that they ARE libel, that they ARE untrue.
You want to "protect" your employer, but as keeps coming back to you.....this was NOT your business, period. Actually, your continually stating that SHE made libelous accusations could, in fact, be construed as libel.....see where this is going?
I missed the part about you having a law degree, but I'd think if that were the case, the obvious problem with declaring something "libelous" is that you have NOTHING to prove it to be so. In this case, it's just your opinion against hers. Not facts.
I'm not name-calling, I'm simply saying that I firmly believe you overstepped the boundaries of propriety, and made a "booboo" yourself.
I think it's important that OP gains a better understanding of the implications of playing Nancy Drew in the future. Whether you agreed with this coworker's "libelous" statement, that's actually not relevant. You might be interested to know that even in non-unionized workplaces, discussions amongst employees regarding workplace conditions-even on Facebook-may qualify as FLSA-protected behavior and cannot be prohibited by the employer.
You're certainly entitled to inform your employer about allegations of illegal employment practices, but the fact that your coworker published that allegation on FB wasn't a "boo-boo".
mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN
3,322 Posts
I have said that I DID attempt to contact person and got no response.