wife suspended

[Dr Who?]

I got a call earlier today from my wife saying that she has been suspended from her job as an English teacher and head of media, as well as a union rep where a report has divided some of the teachers. There are loads of problems at the school she is at and two others have been suspended for different reasons.

 

She is a very hard working teacher and gives 100% to her job, and also loves it. This is her career.

 

The reason she has been suspended is because she gets frustrated about the way the school is run and the other teachers not pulling their weight. She has ranted on facebook and slagged off some senior management about the effort, and even though this was when she was really down in the dumps and working late back in March, this has just come up. She has been dropped in it by one of her facebook 'friends' which makes it worse.

 

She is also leaving the school for a higher standard school in 3 weeks, and they do this. Why not just let her leave?

 

She is worried about what might happen and that is could stop her getting the new dream job. This is her career and future we are talking about and a few rants on facebook.

 

I know there are teachers on here, just wanted your thoughts.

[Ponty]

Why on earth did she rant on Facebook? Christ, talk about inviting trouble on yourself. I do genuinely hope the new job isn't affected.

[Saint in Paradise]

Very easy to say the following but never ever write anything on facebook etc or in an e-mail

that you would not say direct to the people you moan about. Unless you have real proof that

you are 100% correct and they are 100% wrong just keep quiet you never know who reads

that stuff.

 

Also Never ever say anything in a phone call that you would not want to say in a Court of Law

in front of a Judge, you never know who is listening to phone conversations with a handy tape

recorder.

 

 

.

[dune]

I can only assume she breached the terms of her contract. Leave work at work is my motto.

[saintscottofthenortham]

I had a similar (but no way as serious) incident with facebook when I was layed off last summer due to lack of work, a few of my work mates replied to my status update of "Guy who grafts for 12 hours a day gets layed off, Guy who cant put a lenght of Conduit up straight keeps his job" - They only commented saying they were sorry to hear it and its wrong how they hadn't pumped the quite obviously shocking labour. The 4 lads who commented got quite a bollocking after one of my facebook "friends" blapped his mouth off in the office. No need for it, it's just the arse lickers unfortunatly... but they are out there.

[dune]

I had a similar (but no way as serious) incident with facebook when I was layed off last summer due to lack of work, a few of my work mates replied to my status update of "Guy who grafts for 12 hours a day gets layed off, Guy who cant put a lenght of Conduit up straight keeps his job" - They only commented saying they were sorry to hear it and its wrong how they hadn't pumped the quite obviously shocking labour. The 4 lads who commented got quite a bollocking after one of my facebook "friends" blapped his mouth off in the office. No need for it, it's just the arse lickers unfortunatly... but they are out there.

 

It's always been the same - it's not what you know it's who you know.

[a1ex2001]

This is her career and future we are talking about and a few rants on facebook.

 

 

If she was serious about her career she wouldn't have done this period, stupid mistake that could well cost her her current job ad her future one.

[Kadeem Hardison]

What makes people have the reflex action to immediately go out and post all of their problems and work issues on the internet? Could you give us a few more details on the situation, Dr Who?

[Dr Who?]

I am not a teacher and I know things are different in teaching, but surely it will be a warning and told to not post such things on facebook? No names were mentioned and the school was not mentioned. This is a career, you get sacked and the job she loves she may not be able to do, and it will distroy her completely. She loves teaching and it is a big part of her life. Yes she gets stressed and rants about it. She is a Union rep at her school and a head of department, and thought of in high regard, but someone has complained about what she has put in a status on facebook.

 

I am hoping out of all hope that she just gets a good telling off and the new school do not need to know about it, and she can leave and start a fresh at a higher standard school.

 

I do have to say I am very worried about this, as not only is it her career but it could shatter the family financially. I just feel some people do not know what effect something you say can have on someones life.

 

I also understand that it should not be put in a status on facebook, but to lose all the above surely not?

[Dr Who?]

What makes people have the reflex action to immediately go out and post all of their problems and work issues on the internet? Could you give us a few more details on the situation, Dr Who?

 

I am posting as I am concerned and know that there a lot of teachers on here and may have some advice or what they think the outcome will be. The thing is on here none of you (or very few know me let alone my wife and it is not her posting this it is me). I do get your point about posting on here/the net.

[View From The Top]

The school my wife works at has a clause in new contracts regarding facebook. At my college/organisation were are all on it. :-)

 

In teaching references etc are always requested in advance of interview so if she has been offered a job then it should have no impact.

[rocknrollman no2]

Sad news Dr Who.

This country has gone mad with this obsession with snooping,cameras,cctv etc.

If as you say no names or the name of the school was mentuoned,then i think the most they could do is a warning.

Hopefully this wont affect her carreer.

Hope it turns out well for you both.

[aintforever]

I am not a teacher and I know things are different in teaching, but surely it will be a warning and told to not post such things on facebook? No names were mentioned and the school was not mentioned. This is a career, you get sacked and the job she loves she may not be able to do, and it will distroy her completely. She loves teaching and it is a big part of her life. Yes she gets stressed and rants about it. She is a Union rep at her school and a head of department, and thought of in high regard, but someone has complained about what she has put in a status on facebook.

 

I am hoping out of all hope that she just gets a good telling off and the new school do not need to know about it, and she can leave and start a fresh at a higher standard school.

 

I do have to say I am very worried about this, as not only is it her career but it could shatter the family financially. I just feel some people do not know what effect something you say can have on someones life.

 

I also understand that it should not be put in a status on facebook, but to lose all the above surely not?

 

I thought facebook messages can only be read by friends, so as such it is a private conversation?

 

Surely you can't be sacked for something you say in a private conversation out of work. It might be worth seeing if there are grounds for unfair dismissal.

[hypochondriac]

What a numpty putting it on facebook. If she does lose her job then she only has herself to blame.

[Draino76]

A schoolgirl error I'm afraid.

 

You should only have friends on facebook who you want to have sex with at some point.

[trousers]

I feel for you and your wife in your situation Dr Who. It's all very easy for people to come on here and give it the "daft for posting on Facebook" line but we're all human and do things we regret over the years.

 

I'm guessing it's too late for what I'm about to suggest but couldn't she have simply denied it was her who posted it and that it must have been 'someone who knew her' who logged into her account? I know that's an unlikely explanation in the cold light of day but the burdon of proof would have been on the school (?) and they wouldn't have been able to prove it, no matter how far fetched it looked. As I say, probably too far down the line for such a tactic.

 

Anyway, good luck and hope it blows over for you both.

 

All the best

[Trader]

My daughter has over 800 "friends" on facebook.

 

Some of which, frankly, she hardly knows.

 

It seems to be a popularity contest going on here. She is basically sharing her life and details with 800 people.

 

Madness. "Social networking" sounds all lovely and positive, but I have become more cynical about some peoples motives - comes with age and experience I suppose.

 

Maybe I'm a sad old git but at the end of the day my advice to anyone is - trust no-one and keep your cards close to your chest.

 

Hope it all works out for you and your wife though.

Edited 12 July, 2010 by Trader

[buctootim]

I feel for you and your wife in your situation Dr Who. It's all very easy for people to come on here and give it the "daft for posting on Facebook" line but we're all human and do things we regret over the years.

 

I'm guessing it's too late for what I'm about to suggest but couldn't she have simply denied it was her who posted it and that it must have been 'someone who knew her' who logged into her account? I know that's an unlikely explanation in the cold light of day but the burdon of proof would have been on the school (?) and they wouldn't have been able to prove it, no matter how far fetched it looked. As I say, probably too far down the line for such a tactic.

 

Anyway, good luck and hope it blows over for you both.

 

All the best

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law

Good post Trousers. Echoes my thoughts, unlike the some of the posters here who pretend they have never done anything unwise in the heat of the moment. FWIW I think if I was her I'd resign now, if she hasnt already, before any disciplinary hearing takes place - or if she is called to one, claim illness to avoid attending until her contract expires. Also it would be money well spent getting an hours specialist advice. If you cant get it from the union then pay a lawyer who specialises in employment law, NOT a local general practice solicitor (make sure you get the partner who specialises in employment - not a trainee or assistant).

[chrisobee]

I feel for you and your wife in your situation Dr Who. It's all very easy for people to come on here and give it the "daft for posting on Facebook" line but we're all human and do things we regret over the years.

 

I'm guessing it's too late for what I'm about to suggest but couldn't she have simply denied it was her who posted it and that it must have been 'someone who knew her' who logged into her account? I know that's an unlikely explanation in the cold light of day but the burdon of proof would have been on the school (?) and they wouldn't have been able to prove it, no matter how far fetched it looked. As I say, probably too far down the line for such a tactic.

 

Anyway, good luck and hope it blows over for you both.

 

 

 

All the best

 

That was precisely my thought though hacking on FB is rife, the whole site is now an utter shambles and moderation non existent. Good luck, at the very worst it was just silly and no more and I agree few can truly say they have never done something they regret surely ?

[frankie]

To be honest Facebook has a lot to answer for, I currently work in a school as an unqualified teacher (basically means I can do the job but don't have the piece of paper yet to be called qualified......I am working towards this by the way), but due to reorganisation on the Island I will be unemployed in September, a Facebook campaign was started by parents for me to keep my job, basically the council got involved and the rest I cannot say....but a head teacher of another local school wanted to offer me a job, but was put off because her current staff said I was unprofessional on Facebook....crazy world we live in if a social network site can have a bearing on employment...

 

Dr Who the only thing I can suggest and I am sure your wife has probably already looked down this route is to contact the union etc. like you say this should be a warning first (happeneed several times at my school with members of staff) then something harsher for repeat offenders...seems like sour grapes to me.

 

Good luck

 

Frankie

[Baj]

This is exactly the reason why I culled my facebook friends from 400+ down to 80. The only people on my facebook now are those who I would happily have a phone conversation with and would trust.

[GenevaSaint]

Sad news in deed, hope she isn't dumped upon, but there were a few rants to quote you. In regards to not knowing what school it was, unfortunately if she has "friends" at the school they'll know, which is the issue here.

 

I hear this sort of thing on a weekly basis and people unfortunately get sacked for basic errors.

[Saint in Paradise]

Good Luck to you both, I really hope the new job is still open. However would it be tactful for

your wife to mention it to the new school just in case some blabbermouth blabs ?

 

.

[trousers]

Good Luck to you both, I really hope the new job is still open. However would it be tactful for

your wife to mention it to the new school just in case some blabbermouth blabs ?

 

.

 

I was thinking that too. If I was the head of the new school I'd appreciate the honesty of a future employee being forthcoming with what has happened. Concealing now could lead to problems down the line and taint her reputation even more.

 

If the new school was to then do a knee jerk reaction and call off the new job that would be a blessing in disguise in a way as it would highlight a lack of compassion in the people in charge at the new school.

[Doctoroncall]

Good luck, I hope she sorts it out and she is able to move to her new school ok.

 

Something to remember is that electronic records are considered equivalant to paper records when access requires a password, unless it can be proved that can be bypassed.

 

I thought in FB (I don't have an account) that you can set up groups so you can share certain information to those groups?

 

I was thinking that too. If I was the head of the new school I'd appreciate the honesty of a future employee being forthcoming with what has happened. Concealing now could lead to problems down the line and taint her reputation even more.

 

If the new school was to then do a knee jerk reaction and call off the new job that would be a blessing in disguise in a way as it would highlight a lack of compassion in the people in charge at the new school.

 

Also, they get to hear it how she wants it to be told and be in control of the situation.

Edited 13 July, 2010 by Doctoroncall

[John B]

I got a call earlier today from my wife saying that she has been suspended from her job as an English teacher and head of media, as well as a union rep where a report has divided some of the teachers. There are loads of problems at the school she is at and two others have been suspended for different reasons.

 

She is a very hard working teacher and gives 100% to her job, and also loves it. This is her career.

 

The reason she has been suspended is because she gets frustrated about the way the school is run and the other teachers not pulling their weight. She has ranted on facebook and slagged off some senior management about the effort, and even though this was when she was really down in the dumps and working late back in March, this has just come up. She has been dropped in it by one of her facebook 'friends' which makes it worse.

 

She is also leaving the school for a higher standard school in 3 weeks, and they do this. Why not just let her leave?

 

She is worried about what might happen and that is could stop her getting the new dream job. This is her career and future we are talking about and a few rants on facebook.

 

I know there are teachers on here, just wanted your thoughts.

 

She seems a very stupid person posting on Facebook for the whole world to see.

 

My wife's schoool has a no Facebook Teacher Policy

[The Kraken]

If she is a teacher, head of department and a union rep as you say, then she has a very significant duty of care to not be seen putting as much information as she has done into the public domain. I'd be shocked if my own department head / union representative had made similar types of public statements about fellow workers instead of dealing with the problem internally, and if the person that these accusations were made about were to see or hear about what has been posted I'd imagine they would be livid. No matter whether your wife thinks her actions were justified at the time, or that she made a mistake, the fact is that this is a private, internal matter and has no business whatsoever being dicussed in a forum such as facebook.

[Gemmel]

Fook me - Don't come on to the lounge for a friendly ear.

 

Dr Who, we have done silly things, but don't worry to much.

I am guessing as a teacher, she has only a couple of weeks, left anyway before the holidays start. The advice to seek proper advice is the best one, but if she resigns then i would imagine the problem goes away. If she can arrange for a meeting or conversation between the relevant parties, then I am sure an apology would go a long way.

There is a shed load of work and strife ahead for anybody that wants to pursue this to a conclusion, and if she is leaving anyway, then it would serve no purpose, unless this has become vindictive.

[GenevaSaint]

She seems a very stupid person posting on Facebook for the whole world to see.

My wife's schoool has a no Facebook Teacher Policy

 

They should not and cannot legally enforce a no facebook policy for teachers, they're human beings and are allowed a life. The policy should say something along the lines that you cannot and should not post any comments on your work. The same policy should be in place for blogs as well.

[Dr Who?]

Thanks for the advice. She has been a teacher for 4 years and has worked so hard at her job, but is still a little wet behind the ears. With regards to facebook it is about the same age as her teaching career and noone really thinks it will become a problem posting on there. But you learn and move on in life.

 

She has a 'meeting' on Friday and is trying to get a union rep to attend with her.

 

Her profile was private and only for "Friends" to see, but one of these "friends" has for some reason decided to grass her up here. Also with her being a union person at her school it has been divide down the middle with an issue that came up in a report... I think they have hit back!

 

Hopefully all with be fine, and she is going to see her new school on Thursday and will decide then if she will say anything about what is happening. It could all blow over on Friday so might not be worth it.

 

Cheers all of you.

[Spudders]

This is exactly the reason why I culled my facebook friends from 400+ down to 80. The only people on my facebook now are those who I would happily have a phone conversation with and would trust.

 

I have just checked to see if you've culled me

[benjii]

Sad news Dr Who.

This country has gone mad with this obsession with snooping,cameras,cctv etc.

If as you say no names or the name of the school was mentuoned,then i think the most they could do is a warning.

Hopefully this wont affect her carreer.

Hope it turns out well for you both.

 

To some extent but in this case the cause seems to have been emotional incontinence and a need to blab publically about private matters. It is a worrying trend precipitated by the idiot sucklers of things like Big Brother, Twitter etc...

 

I hope the wife does not suffer any serious consequences but this whole episode is indicative of a worrying trend in our culture IMO.

[Spudders]

I had an issue with facebook when I was managing a lot of people a couple of years back. I started getting friend request from staff and stupidly I accepted them all, but I then felt I had to be very careful about what I said on there.

Had a massive panic one day when one of my friends discovered some old pictures she’d taken after a night out clubbing in my old ‘raving days’ and she stuck them on and tagged me. I looked absolutely fooked in them, eyes like saucers! I quickly untagged myself, but decided at that point that having work colleagues on friend lists wasn’t a good idea so I sent them all a message saying as much and culled them all.

[John B]

They should not and cannot legally enforce a no facebook policy for teachers, they're human beings and are allowed a life. The policy should say something along the lines that you cannot and should not post any comments on your work. The same policy should be in place for blogs as well.

 

You can have a life without being on Facebook I would have thought.

 

By being on Facebook they are saved from comments by pupils

[OttawaSaint]

She shouldn't have posted on facebook, but it looks like they did it out of spite as she is leaving for a beter job.

[RedAndWhite91]

I had an issue with facebook when I was managing a lot of people a couple of years back. I started getting friend request from staff and stupidly I accepted them all, but I then felt I had to be very careful about what I said on there.

Had a massive panic one day when one of my friends discovered some old pictures she’d taken after a night out clubbing in my old ‘raving days’ and she stuck them on and tagged me. I looked absolutely fooked in them, eyes like saucers! I quickly untagged myself, but decided at that point that having work colleagues on friend lists wasn’t a good idea so I sent them all a message saying as much and culled them all.

 

Just out of interest, why did you panic? Surely old photos couldn't affect your job?

[Spudders]

Just out of interest, why did you panic? Surely old photos couldn't affect your job?

 

Nah wasn’t worried about losing the job, like you say they can’t don anything about photos from 15 years ago, but I was managing a group of youngsters who I was trying to mould into harder working young adults, rather than the group of workshy slackers than they were at that point. So just didn’t want them seeing pics of me off my tits, you kind of loose some respect in those situations, I had an image of a joyless manager to uphold.

[SoccerMom]

Dr Who

She has a right to be accompanied to her meeting by a union rep or a friend from the workplace, and I think that she can delay the meeting by up to five days in order to find a suitable date.

Under employment law she has a right not to suffer detriment as a result of her union duties, and if - as I suspect - the suspension has more to do with her being an outspoken member of staff in the workplace than it does with her having made a few frustrated remarks to her friends on Facebook, then if she subsequently is given a bad reference or finds that in anyway her future employment has been affected by someone at her current employers telling her new employers about her suspension, she can make a complaint in the Employment Tribunal.

If she is taking up a new job in three weeks, I assume she has already given notice to her employers. Suspending her during the notice period seems like an extraordinarily vindictive act, and I would hazard that the ET would see it that way as well...

[.comsaint]

Hmmm. This thread is a reminder to me (once again) of why I don't - and never have - had a Facebook account!

 

[Smirking_Saint]

If she is a teacher, head of department and a union rep as you say, then she has a very significant duty of care to not be seen putting as much information as she has done into the public domain. I'd be shocked if my own department head / union representative had made similar types of public statements about fellow workers instead of dealing with the problem internally, and if the person that these accusations were made about were to see or hear about what has been posted I'd imagine they would be livid. No matter whether your wife thinks her actions were justified at the time, or that she made a mistake, the fact is that this is a private, internal matter and has no business whatsoever being dicussed in a forum such as facebook.

 

Unfortunately i agree with this.

 

I am not on faceache or this reason also, plus i tried it for a little while and it annoyed the fook out of me will everyone posting endless status updates like 'Suzy is currently having a dump' and 'john is really upset'

 

Why anyone would want to post every aspect of their private lives on an online site that can be viewed by all the people you have ever met and stupidly made a decision to add them i would never know, sure for the close knit side of things it is good to stay in touch but i have a mobile and legs for that sort of thing.

 

If my team at work had issues etc i would personally look at it very unfavourably if certain members were openly discussing and criticising other members in full view of 100's of people, not only is it damaging to morale but could lead to a whole host of other problems, as for your wife being essentially a line manager AND a union rep she should really be setting a better example and in a way it shows the senior management no respect in openly airing all of the problems in the work place, if she had an issue she should really have discussed it in private. This is the same sort of thing as when employees openly start moaning and complaining to management in front of other employees, you do the right thing and keep it quiet until you get the manager alone to discuss issues.

 

That said it is a silly mistake, we all make them and i hope she learns from the future. I really hope it does not affect her new job, and like others have said it may be good to politely speak to the new job and explain the situation, this allows her to have control over the information given to them FIRST and so she may be able to 'explain it' a little more favourably then her senior management who may be a little ruffled with the situation and her leaving. But also look at it this way, when she gets her new dream job she is much less likely to put it at risk by making the same silly mistakes.

[Viking Warrior]

Dr Who

 

Unfortunately and I assume she is working for a local authority Dr Who? You are not being specific about the reasons contained in her suspension letter> I can only assume she has a charge of Bringing the School in to disrepute and behaviour not conducive to good working relations.

 

The suspension is probably only a technical process why they carryout an investigation. The school will not be able to dismiss her without going through correct disciplinary procedures and then she will hav ehte right to appeal through the normal process. Its unlikely to be a sackable offence but Im not savvy to the staff rules for the school PM if you want to discuss further off line

[sotonjoe]

That seems rather one sided.

 

On the other hand, she could be a troublesome employee who has gone one step too far by making critical (unprofessional?) remarks in the public domain (yes, Facebook and the internet IS the public domain), and has been suspended pending her permanent departure in order to avoid things escalating any further.

 

The suspension may well be the best thing for all parties involved.

[Marsdinho]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23732446-facebook-entry-that-earned-lindsay-her-p45.do

[derry]

Two pieces of advice, get off Facebook and don't be a Union rep it's a mugs game. Do the job and don't make waves, leave that for the mugs. If you subsequently have a problem where you are in the right, then go in hard and ramp up the consequences rapidly for the problem maker. It's amazing how quickly things go away if both barrels are shown quickly and the lawyers/law/tribunals loom.

[Saint George]

That seems rather one sided.

 

On the other hand, she could be a troublesome employee who has gone one step too far by making critical (unprofessional?) remarks in the public domain (yes, Facebook and the internet IS the public domain), and has been suspended pending her permanent departure in order to avoid things escalating any further.

 

The suspension may well be the best thing for all parties involved.

 

The "Union rep" bit tells you everything you need to know

[Marsdinho]

This is exactly the reason why I culled my facebook friends from 400+ down to 80. The only people on my facebook now are those who I would happily have a phone conversation with and would trust.

 

Show off...

[scotty]

If she was serious about her career she wouldn't have done this period, stupid mistake that could well cost her her current job ad her future one.

 

that may have been a factor.

[Jimmy Gabriel's Halo]

DO NOT EVER, EVER put anything about your work/job/career on Farcebook. NOT EVER, NEVER. In fact, as a teacher, she should have known better. It's something strictly for kids and those unable to communicate normally. No offence, you understand.... 8-)

[RedAndWhite91]

Nah wasn’t worried about losing the job, like you say they can’t don anything about photos from 15 years ago, but I was managing a group of youngsters who I was trying to mould into harder working young adults, rather than the group of workshy slackers than they were at that point. So just didn’t want them seeing pics of me off my tits, you kind of loose some respect in those situations, I had an image of a joyless manager to uphold.

 

If you were my manager and I saw pics of you raving away you would have gained respect from me, not lost it! See your point though.

[hypochondriac]

Thanks for the advice. She has been a teacher for 4 years and has worked so hard at her job, but is still a little wet behind the ears. With regards to facebook it is about the same age as her teaching career and noone really thinks it will become a problem posting on there. But you learn and move on in life.

 

She has a 'meeting' on Friday and is trying to get a union rep to attend with her.

 

Her profile was private and only for "Friends" to see, but one of these "friends" has for some reason decided to grass her up here. Also with her being a union person at her school it has been divide down the middle with an issue that came up in a report... I think they have hit back!

 

Hopefully all with be fine, and she is going to see her new school on Thursday and will decide then if she will say anything about what is happening. It could all blow over on Friday so might not be worth it.

 

Cheers all of you.

 

Yes they do. You've got to be pretty dumb to think that. I mean there have been so many well publicised examples and schools have facebook policies for a reason. I hope it works out for her but honestly that's a really stupid thing to do.