Facebook almost cost me my job

[ReginaPhalange]

Hi AN family,

This topic has been discussed throughout many threads but I wanted to designate a single thread to this issue. I am a Facebook junkie just like many people from my generation.

I would never post anything patient related or anything that would breach HIPAA. I posted a very tongue-in-cheek status about the daily struggles of nursing (such as drug seeking patients, non-compliant patients, and the patients with a grand sense of entitlement to name a few).

It was meant to be sarcastic and humorous. Well, long story short, HR got a hold of it and almost fired me for it. They said it made me look like a cold, callous nurse and that doesn't sit well with their core values as a facility.

My point of this thread is to be extremely careful about what you post on the internet. My page was as private as it could be but they managed to view it through a "friend's" page.

Luckily, I was able to keep my job and learned a valuable lesson. Don't post work related ANYTHING on your social networking sites.

[Mudder]

LOL, I used FB to get my point BACK to my boss :) I knew someone on my "friends" would run right back and tell her what I said and I wanted her to know sooooooooooo. But, there is a federal law against firing someone because of "generalize" things said about ones work place.....it's considered "water cooler" talk and you can't be fired for it.......that being said........they can fire you for any other reason so be careful.

[NewNavyRN]

The "Facebook almost/did get me fired" concept is not a new one. We should all know better by now.

[JeneraterRN]

Thanks for sharing your experience that we all may learn from it!

[Akeos]

Shouldn't management be spending their time on more important things like working on improving the care to their patients, or ways to decrease nosocomial infections, or increase the comradery and teamwork on the unit, ect. I doubt the patients care what you post on your facebook status. people are out there protesting at our soldiers funerals and thats legal, but there's people getting fired and reprimanded for venting about a bad day or difficult work environment on their private facebook page. It's completely ridiculous. To the people who are complaining and telling HR and Management about other's facebook posts, get a hobby and pull the stick out of your a$$.

[hardygirl, LPN, RN]

A friend of mine was actually fired for a comment she made on FB about something a resident was doing even though she did not violate HIPAA, nor disclose where she worked. It didnt help that she befriended several people including a supervisor (who actually asked to be added). Well weeks after she was fired she even received a call from the ombudsman! I thought that was a bit extreme. So everyone out there please be careful about who you befriend on FB (especially co-workers) because who knows who is a spy recruited by HR and who knows how much trouble you can get into for making a small comment. Sometimes I wonder if there are some on AN Just Kidding

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Before long, there might be the same stories from using this. This doesn't sit well with me, but I'm probably in the minority on this issue, so I'll just go back to my lurker corner.

It is impossible for anybody at work to know who you are on here unless you give too much information or identify yourself. This is why we tell you not to use your real name or give any personal information. Unlike facebook this site is heavily moderated to protect the patients, use of people's names in a discussion. If you ever spot identifying information in a thread all you have to do is press the report and a moderator of whom there are 25 on this website will get to it.

The moderators are all working RN's who are upto date with current research in their own specialities.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I use facebook and even have some coworkers, upper management, and my DON as friends. Just use good judgement. I never post anything negative...just general comments. My grown children all live out of state, as do many of my other family members. It's a great way for us all to keep in touch. As far as posting about work, the only negative thing I've ever written was "what a long day!" Once it's out there it's out there forever.

[belgarion]

One of our aides wound up with a nasty-gram in her file for posting someting along the lines of dreading the drive to work tonight. She was actually refering to road conditions after an ice storm. Management took it as a comment on her lack of desire to "be there for the patients."

I'm a memeber of a couple of civic groups that use FB to post calenders, news and events. Hopefully I won't get burned for RSVPing my intention to attend next weeks Lions Club luncheon. Or is that too much information?

[Chicago, BSN, RN]

Sooooooooooooo.....what you're indicating to me, is that HR was on Facebook on company time:confused:????

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have had several people fired and even more taken to HR for a talking too. We have a social networking policy in place and it pretty much says you can NOT talk bad about the place of employment and when you write something about healthcare, etc you are supposed to say that it is not the opinion of XXXX. I work with some people that were posting some pretty hideous things about the docs at work (with their names), co workers, etc. Big NO NO. Don't poop where you live people.

I was recently involved in a court case for work and they googled and checked every juror, witness, etc for social networking. It was amazing what they found out about these people. Nothing is as private as you think. They have programs that can hack into your Private accounts. Big Brother and all that. I try to tell my kids, whatever you put on there is like a billboard....employers, prospective employers, colleges, etc can see what you put on there.

Also, now most hospitals have a page on facebook..just be aware that if you like that page, they have access to your page.

We have a new problem with staff texting patients families....now that is a big lawsuit waiting to happen. People are so naive or stupid...I haven't quite figured it out.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Wow!!!! I think that is absolutely overboard that this situation even made its way to HR. If I were you, I'd really like to know who "leaked" that information. I do agree that this is a lesson learned, but I think people take facebook posts WAY too seriously. Good luck in the future!

There are two ways that HR has access:

1. I have had co-workers that like to create drama print off pages and send them to upper management of postings of co-workers that they were friends with OR, with the less than 6-degrees of separation on Facebook, you don't even have to be friends with someone in order for someone to see your posts...just a friend of a friend.

2. Employer Facebook Sites....How many of you belong to the one your employer created and "like" the site? Congrats...you just gave them access to your profile.

Everyone needs to look at this from the employers side: They are concerned about public image and they DO NOT need a legal reason to fire you...if you live in an employment at will state, they do not have to give you a reason...they can simply call you into the office and say your services are no longer needed.

Employees think they have "free speech" on Facebook...but that only exists if you do not value your job...they also have the legal right not to keep you as an employee.

I post things about work, but they are always positive and do not even vaguely reference anything specific, "Checking in at ____________"..."Low-census tonight"..."Looking forward to sleeping in", "Day 2 of 3"...etc.

I also NEVER post while at work...our facility has a policy of no cell phones at work and even though this is frequently violated and as long as management isn't around everyone else looks the other way...you'll get stone cold busted if you post while you are on the clock.

PS: I use two different email addresses. I use one that has my name in it for professional and business correspondance. I have another one that NOBODY knows about. I have another state that I don't live in, etc and tons of other false information about myself on my profile...I use this for blogs and other public postings that require an e-mail.

I Google myself and my e-mail addresses all the time, my professional e-mail address shows NOTHING when you Google it, but yet my other one is all over the internet..and it is also one that my employer knows nothing about.

[RNTOBE_1970]

I know in our HR, their are a few people that do troll through facebook pages of current employees. My office is within ear shot of them, and it was overheard.