[Wall Posts For Facebook Hilarious
Luther Lazaro
On my Facebook wall, as does everyone else, I post stuff that reflects my opinion about many things, including jokes, videos, posts, etc. They simply represent my thoughts and who I am. Sometimes I write about some things that happen at work but I do so in an indirect way, without mentioning the name of the company or people involved. The problem is that some people at work disagree with some of the things I post, and some of the employees at work (including seniors and managers) even hate those posts on my own personal wall. I got a few comments lately from them in person; some of them took it too far and give me some kind of a hidden threat like mentioning how this might affect my future promotions.
Now I can simply unfriend these people in Facebook, possibly causing awkwardness, or I can restrict them from seeing some of my posts which means I am a coward. I did not violate any company or government rules by what I said and I am free to express my opinion about anything. So far, I have told these people, "This is my private wall and it has nothing to do with work," but they feel it is their right to discuss this matter! I was a bit aggressive with one senior at work and I told him if he doesn't like my Facebook posts then he can unfriend me there or go "F himself". I know this is not the best reaction but I was mad.
Keep work and Facebook separate. Realize everything you post on Facebook will be part of your work interactions and relationships when those people see it. This is just asking for trouble if you post anything even remotely controversial.
They are probably free to fire you about anything too. Keep this in mind... just because you are "free to express yourself" doesn't necessarily free you from consequences of those actions, even something seemingly as trivial as Facebook. It affects your interactions with coworkers.
Well... you did allow them to see your profile, which means you either have friended them or have a public profile. You are allowing them to see the content, posting knowing they are able to see it, and wondering if it's their "right." Of course it is - you are willingly letting them view your profile!
Start with not telling a senior employee to go F themselves. You have put yourself into the difficult situation where unfortunately you have basically told your coworkers (including managers/senior employees it seems) that:
You have to realize that when you let coworkers see a "private wall" it's no longer private. This is human nature. Your options basically are to continue giving them reasons to dislike you (I'd stop with responding so hostile to them...) until you get fired or defriend/limit their access to your profile.
Free speech does not mean speech has no consequences. It means the government can't jail you for what you said. It doesn't mean that companies can't fire you. I know of at least one person who was fired because she posted racist comments about her coworkers on Facebook. Yes her co-workers, even those who were not the ones being insulted, complained to management.
The first rule of Facebook use should be never bite the hand that feeds you by complaining in any way, shape, or form about your job, your boss or your co-workers. If you feel the need to vent, do so in private messages.
The next rule is be careful what you post, you never know who is going to ultimately see it. Companies use Facebook to see what your character is like in hiring too. (I may not agree with the practice but it does exist and posting things that employers won't like is limiting your future as well as current job prospects.)
However, if a company doesn't like the person I am, then I probably won't be happy working there either. So you don't have to be too restrictive, just use good sense. For instance I would not want to work somewhere that could not respect my religious beliefs or somewhere that fires you for supporting the wrong political party (Yes these kinds of companies exist), so I will post things related to that and not worry about it. But no company wants to hire a drunk or drug user, so be careful of the content of photos you post.
Now on to your current problem. First, there is no circumstance where it is appropriate to tell someone at work to go F#$k himself. You made a major, firing error right there. Immediately go apologize in person and never let it happen again. You behaved badly, you owe the apology even if they fire you. Being mad does not justify such behavior. If your first thought is to get more aggressive, you need to learn not to do that or you will have a very hard time. You may need to take a class in anger management if that is the way you typically react to things.
Incidentally, by telling you that what you were posting would limit your future promotions, they were trying to do you a favor, so you could correct the problem. You took it as an insult and then proceeded to escalate the situation, showing them that you have poor judgement and probably making sure you will never be promoted and may very well get fired or at least first on the list if they have a layoff. It may not be possible at this point to salvage your reputation at this place. I certainly would at a minimum start looking for other work and use this as a learning experience to make sure you don't make the same fatal mistakes at another employer.
You know what they hate, so either stop posting such things, post them only to private groups or unfriend the co-workers. These people have control of your continued employment, they control what types of tasks you will be given, what your performance appraisal and salary increases will be and they decide on promotions and bonuses. In what fantasy world is it the smart move to make them angry at you? So stop making them angry. Their opinion of you is critically important to your future job success and ability to put food on the table.
In just about any form, you are free (in most western countries, anyway) to speak your mind. Even if your beliefs are offensive to others, as long as they are not obscene, dangerous or provoking violence or crime.
In all of these countries - everyone else is also free to draw an opinion about you based on what you say, and express that opinion. And they are free to make other decisions about you based on that opinion. It's just as much their right as yours.
Facebook and most other forms of social media are the equivalent of shouting in a crowded pub - it may not be the town square, but it sure isn't private. Certainly you can limit your voice in choosing who you friend and what opinions you share with what groups - but also realize that even when you limit the audience, your words and opinions can go far without you - be particularly eloquent or interesting or funny, and you'll get re-quoted, moving your sphere beyond your personal choice.
You've caused awkwardness. At this point, I really wouldn't worry about causing more by unfriending - if you don't feel that these are people you want to communicate with on Facebook, unfriend them. If there is other value to your online connection, consider whether or not your behavior online jeopardizes that value.
Make a choice about what you want your Facebook to be. Is it a fun way to stay in touch with social connections? Is it a representation of yourself as a whole person? As a working professional? Is about your hobbies? Your politics, religion or personal beliefs?
Others don't - most offices discourage strong expressions of religions or politics, some jokes that are great in a social setting are a problem at the office. If you primarily use Facebook this way - consider whether it's appropriate to friend any colleagues, and whether you'd ever make an exception (we all have coworkers who transcend to trusted friend).
It sounds to me like you haven't thought much about this thus far and that making a conscious choice about how Facebook and your professional life do or don't work well together is a good idea. My rule of thumb - if I use the account for something I wouldn't shout out loud in the office - then I don't friend coworkers unless I know them very well.
Basically you should assume that - unless your Facebook friends are completely separate from your work environment and you have 100% trust in their discretion - anything you post is potentially public and permanent. Don't forget that people can pass around links and screengrabs to their own circle, who might not be so forgiving. And you may inadvertantly allow someone in who goes through old material you'd forgotten about and finds that offensive.
Seriously, I've seen worse happen than firings over inappropriate Facebook material. If you feel the need to get stuff off your chest that others might not be happy about, phone a friend or meet up in a bar/cafe/whatever and talk.
Q: Is it their right to do that (telling me what to post in my wall about my personal beliefs or so)? just because we work at the same company and they are either managers or seniors?
The question of 'rights' is irrelevant. What is relevant is the de-facto situation: They see things they don't like from one of their employees, and you're going to have to deal with the fallout.
You do realize that if you are viewing your Facebook wall on a company computer that you could be contributing to a "hostile work environment" that could be grounds for various legal action, right? I mean you wouldn't put up a Playboy calendar in your cubicle and this is possibly in the same ballpark if you are posting what could be construed as hate speech. Thus, be careful what kind of battleground you want to start here.
The point here is the question of do you know what the bounds of the office are, what may or may not be seen as crossing the line though if your computer at work is what you are using to post from that is dangerous territory as the company may monitor what you post.
Edit: There is also something to be said for what constitutes the office as I remember at one workplace they would say that even if you were on your personal cellphone, if it was at a company event, that could still be considered the workplace even if the event was at a bar or other public venue. Thus, you may be under a false sense of what is private and what isn't. That workplace was in Alberta, Canada which may or may not be your jurisdiction.
795a8134c1