Should social media get you fired?

[tabbycat31]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/02/being-shamed-on-social-media-should-not-get-people-fired/385597/

Interesting discussion here.

As someone who has to keep a very watchful eye on social media (I've not interviewed people due to social media and came close to firing someone due to social media), I'm mixed. I think your private life is private (and you should set your privacy settings accordingly) but you have to know who you are friends with (you take a risk being friends with your boss on social media).

However there are a few things that you should not do no matter what your occupation is (most are common sense)

1) Make your profile pic something that depicts you as irresponsible (ie one where you are drunk)
2) Take a sick day and then prove that you were not sick on social media (Real life example of why I almost fired someone for it-- took a sick day and checked into a party and posted dozens of pics from said party. Other examples would be talking about the bargains you got at the mall that day, working on your tan, etc). If you tell your employer you are sick, don't post evidence on social media that you are not. (Note, this is not for a pre planned/approved vacation day in which you can do whatever you want).
3) Post anything that would violate the terms of your employment--- ie private information about clients, confidential information, pics of clients/customers/students/patients, etc
4) Post that you are deliberately harming someone that your job involves serving (ie "This guy at table #6 is being a jackass to me, I'm going to spit in his food.&quot

[NightWatcher]

1. Social media it the same as saying it in public, so yes.

So if someone called in sick to work and then posted pics of a party they attended, yes I would fire them. They admitted their behavior. If they are dumb enough to admit their bad behavior in public I think they should be held accountable.

I am so glad that I'll never need another security clearance again.

[F4lconF16]

2. The last three reasons are fine with me.

Those are violations of your job. The first? Stupid, yes, but you shouldn't be fired for doing something stupid and irresponsible on your own time, provided it doesn't affect you at your job.

Overall, though, I feel like you should be allowed to post and say anything you want, provided it's all private matters. If it has to do with work (as in #3-4) then it could be legitimate grounds for dismissal.

[tabbycat31]

3. I've not interviewed someone due to the first one

I look up everyone on FB before I decide to call them for an interview (if I can find them). I look at whatever they make public (profile pic is public no matter what your privacy settings are).

(My profile pic on social media is a cat to protect my own privacy).

[F4lconF16]

5. Oh no, I agree that it's stupid.

My facebook is a wasteland, with max privacy settings and no identifiable information or pictures. I avoid social media with a passion. But I don't think you should get fired for it if you're already hired, though it may be a good reason not to hire someone in the first place.

[tridim]

4. I'm more concerned about internal social media.. AKA office gossip.

I got in trouble once for a vicious lie a coworker told about me. A lie that existed as "the truth" for months before I even knew about it.

[el_bryanto]

6. It doesn't matter it should or not - it probably will

We've always been afraid of big brother watching everything we do; sooner or later we will be more terrified of a thousand little brothers watching us from every angle. Look at the gamergate controversy and how people are being harassed for speaking their mind. As the tools that make that possible become more accessible and widespread, we'll see more and more of it. You don't like a coworker; do a quick snoop and find out something embarrassing or incriminating and spread it around.

Bryant

[hollysmom]

7. like everything in life - it depends

You should be able to say you had a hard day at work or that you are not fond of people you work with, you shuld not call out people by name and embarrass them, you should not admit to doing something illegal.