Posting on Social Media

Nurses General Nursing

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A coworker posted the following comment to me on her facebook page:

"--------- the next time you throw my printed papers don’t be sorry when you did it intentionally!

My reply: "Oh....the ones you printed. Sorry, I'm half asleep. I am sorry about the papers. I thought they were an advertisement for a class. I only glanced at them. I didn't know anyone was printing until --------- said something".

Her next reply: ----------  one of the papers has my name on it bec it was certificate.. You knew I was in the classroom you could have say sorry over the phone or just few steps away when ---------- told you about it but anyways you said sorry now!

Her reply to a physician we work with daily: It was just 10 mins after I printed it out then it was tossed in the garbage. I thought it didn’t go through but it was in the garbage can.

In addition to at least 27 coworkers, it is also viewable by my manager as they are "friends" on the app.

My issue is of this affecting coworkers perception of me and how it might impact our working with them from here on out. More importantly, the affect of my professional relationship with the physician and my manager.

#1. Is this inappropriate and

#2. What are my options? Contacting Human Resources? Submitting an incident report under the category regarding fellow employees? Both? Something different?

My manager is aware of a history of this person being verbally hostile towards me, all but once in front of coworkers.

I apologize for the length of this post and appreciate in advance any comments you have.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

I do not see the point in involving your manager, let alone human resources in this matter. What I will suggest is excluding colleagues from your social media. I make it a habit to keep my work and private life separate, and it has led to less headaches and awkward situations. 

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On 12/10/2021 at 7:26 PM, Kellyjustkelly said:

A coworker posted the following comment to me on her facebook page:

"K K the next time you throw my printed papers don’t be sorry when you did it intentionally!

Welcome to AN!

I have to ask.. Is your coworker eight years old? Do people really do this? Suffer a minor, no miniscule actually, and easily remedied setback.. and instantly raise a stink about it on social media? 

On 12/10/2021 at 7:26 PM, Kellyjustkelly said:

Her reply to a physician we work with daily: It was just 10 mins after I printed it out then it was tossed in the garbage. I thought it didn’t go through but it was in the garbage can.

I don’t understand. Did one of the physicians you work with find your exchange interesting enough that s/he started asking questions about the details surrounding the unfortunate demise of the printed papers? 

On 12/10/2021 at 7:26 PM, Kellyjustkelly said:

In addition to at least 27 coworkers, it is also viewable by my manager as they are "friends" on the app.

As Okami correctly identified, this is the root of your problems.

I really like the majority of my coworkers and get on really well with my manager, but I keep my work and my private lives separate. I definitely don’t interact with my manager and coworkers on social media. 

On 12/10/2021 at 7:26 PM, Kellyjustkelly said:

#2. What are my options? Contacting Human Resources? Submitting an incident report under the category regarding fellow employees?

I don’t see anything good coming from that. What exactly do you expect HR to do? Chastise your coworker and tell her to not be snide and surly to you on social media?

You mention that you are worried about how your coworkers and manager perceive you. I don’t think that involving HR in this matter sends the signal that you are a confident and mature professional. They will likely wonder why they are being dragged into something that really is a rather trivial conflict between two adults that the two of you ought to be able to resolve face to face. 

I honestly think that your best course of action is to not interact on social media with your manager and coworkers. I suspect you can avoid a lot of drama that way. 

Best wishes!

OP, just a piece of advice. If that is your real name, consider changing your username here to something a bit more anonymous. 

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

It's facebook.

Delete the comment.

Unfriend them on social media and tell them to have a conversation face to face or in private messages if there's a problem that needs to be discussed.


Done.

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I would go with a the following:

Next time you print something, how about you get off your butt and take it off the printer, you printer hog.  Next time you leave something on the printer, I'm not going to throw it out- I'll shred it.  Then, I'll go to the fridge and throw out your lunch.  You leave your pen on a desk, Ill throw that out too.  

Also- get a life.  Seriously-Calling me out for accidentally throwing out some paper? Do you have any idea how that makes you look?

Have a little perspective. This nurse threw out a friggin kidney.

Or, you could just let it go.

 

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Specializes in school nurse.

Many people are stupid. Social media often helps them advertise this fact.

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Specializes in ER.

The whole thing sounds like trailer trash drama to me. Why participate? Just unfollow this person on facebook and restrict their access to only view what you put out to the general public. 

Unfriending, and/or blocking only escalates the situation, and should be reserved for dire situations. Going to HR with this pettiness is not a good idea.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

First mistake; putting employment contacts and Co workers in your social media friends list. 

Second mistake; responding to the childish post rather than simply unfriending the person.  

Social media is a toxic wasteland for bullies and bull**** artists, get it out of your work life. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
2 hours ago, Emergent said:

The whole thing sounds like trailer trash drama to me. Why participate? Just unfollow this person on facebook and restrict their access to only view what you put out to the general public. 

Unfriending, and/or blocking only escalates the situation, and should be reserved for dire situations. Going to HR with this pettiness is not a good idea.

Once you unfriend or block them and THEY escalate THEIR animus and petty attacks you are insulated from the drama.  When the bully realizes that they can't get a rise from you on social media they may elevate in real life and get themselves into trouble...but you won't have any part of that.  They can rarely let it go...they need to make themselves appear in control so that others can experience their power over the relationship with you and others. 

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Sorry, but this rambling post sounds like sophmore year of high school all over again.  My advice is to walk away and distance yourself from the situation and your friend.

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16 hours ago, Kellyjustkelly said:

I am not friends with her on facebook. Someone brought it to my attention.

 

15 hours ago, Okami_CCRN said:

I do not see the point in involving your manager, let alone human resources in this matter. What I will suggest is excluding colleagues from your social media. I make it a habit to keep my work and private life separate, and it has led to less headaches and awkward situations. 

I am not friends with her on facebook. Someone brought it to my attention.

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On 12/11/2021 at 6:43 AM, macawake said:

Welcome to AN!
I have to ask.. Is your coworker eight years old? Do people really do this? Suffer a minor, no miniscule actually, and easily remedied setback.. and instantly raise a stink about it on social media? 

I don’t understand. Did one of the physicians you work with find your exchange interesting enough that s/he started asking questions about the details surrounding the unfortunate demise of the printed papers? 

As Okami correctly identified, this is the root of your problems.

I really like the majority of my coworkers and get on really well with my manager, but I keep my work and my private lives separate. I definitely don’t interact with my manager and coworkers on social media. 

I don’t see anything good coming from that. What exactly do you expect HR to do? Chastise your coworker and tell her to not be snide and surly to you on social media?

You mention that you are worried about how your coworkers and manager perceive you. I don’t think that involving HR in this matter sends the signal that you are a confident and mature professional. They will likely wonder why they are being dragged into something that really is a rather trivial conflict between two adults that the two of you ought to be able to resolve face to face. 

I honestly think that your best course of action is to not interact on social media with your manager and coworkers. I suspect you can avoid a lot of drama that way. 

Best wishes!

OP, just a piece of advice. If that is your real name, consider changing your username here to something a bit more anonymous. 

I am not friends with her on facebook. Someone brought it to my attention

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