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Your Voice - Help
Got some advice for our PA in need of support? Or perhaps you have a question you'd like some help on?
Will I regret this for ever?
I’m really worried! Can anyone give me any advice?
I have become a great fan of social networking sites in the last couple of years, and outside of work I spend quite a while chatting to mates and swapping photos, etc.
The thing is, I’ve left some personal information on one site in particular, as well as a couple of pictures of me and my boyfriend at a party looking a bit the worse for wear!
But even worse… I’ve made comments about my boss and my work, that aren’t too complimentary! I didn’t mention the firm by name, of course, but it still wouldn’t be hard to work out who it is!
Now I’m reading about people losing jobs and not getting interviews because of blogs they’ve left on these sites – and I’m really worried!
I’ve taken the blog about work down, now, but it may already be too late… Every time I look at my boss I wonder if he knows!
Can anyone help? Or is anyone else in the same situation? What should I do? Advice please!
| Page : Showing 1 to 8 out of 8 comments |
Oh dear! I can understand why you're worried. Hopefully your boss has no idea and now that you've taken the blog down, he or she may never know. Not a very sensible thing to do, though, was it!! My cousin did the same and got one hell of a telling off from her company! They said they were making it a sackable offence in future. I'm not quite sure if that's right or wrong, but the best advice is not to put yourself in that position in the first place. Funny how people seem to think the internet is private!
Comments added by: Karin
I'm now really careful about what information I put on the net. You never know, what you put 'up there' might, one day, come back and bite you on the bum!
Comments added by: Jayne
Sorry, Karin - I don't agree! I think the internet IS private in places! You obviously don't use FaceBook and other social networking sites, but if you put your own info up there, and only allow certain designated friends to see it, then it is private. No-one else can get to it. Other bits of your site might be public if you want them to be, but you probably wouldn't put really personal stuff on those. I don't think this PA's boss has any right to comment on what she put on her social site - it's her business, presumably done in her own time, and is no different from having a chat with her mates over a glass of wine in a bar. Next thing, that will be outlawed too! This makes me cross, to be honest. It has NOTHING to do with her company! We all moan about work at times, and she said she didn't put the company name up - so what's the difference between placing comments on a private website, and a moan to mates on the phone?
Comments added by: TY
Unfortunately websites like facebook will be changing the way information is found by search engines, and so anything you put down could potentially picked up in a search engine. Imagine a big customer typing in XYZ Company and finding a blog by a member of staff slating the company? It's not at all professional and the company could use it in a case for dismissal or damages. Whereas the spoken word is often taken as hearsay, the written word isn't, and people seem to be very gullible about the internet. I use social networking sites, I just don't write a blog.
Comments added by: Emily
I've seen some really malicious stuff on blogs. I had two colleagues who really, really didn't get on at all. One found the other's blog by doing a search on her name. This woman's blog included really horrible things about her personally along with rather derogatory comments about various other colleagues including her own boss. Things like (refering to her boss) 'doesn't know his a**se from his elbow, a complete idiot' and of a PA who organises the Xmas party 'couldn't organise a p**s up in brewery, what a cow'. Her blog was printed out, copied and distributed around the company.....
Comments added by: Jel
They must be mad putting things like that in any kind of writing! Don't they realise how dangerous that is?!
Comments added by: Karin
Yup, I wouldn't put anything of any personal nature whatsoever on email or on any form of the internet. It's not safe! Sorry to sound paranoid, but it's true! I have little sympathy, I'm afraid! Fancy putting comments about your boss online! Bit naive, I'm afraid! It's not a private environment.
Comments added by: HH
Rule #1 - Never put anything in writing you don't want to come back and haunt you, or, that you would not sa in person. This goes for blogs, e-mails, handwritten notes and letters.
Comments added by: G
| Page : Showing 1 to 8 out of 8 comments |
Did You Hear?
What would be on your list of top traits in a boss?
We heard from a recent report that there are three top characteristics that staff
appreciate in a great boss.
These are:
No 1 Being truthful
No 2 Having a good sense of humour
No 3 Trusting individuals to do the job without interfering.
Previous Topic:
A report just out says that after ageism the next kind of discrimination will be "lookism"!
In other words, any comments in the workplace about over-weight people, "dumb blondes" or "gingas", short people, tall people, or skinny people, those with buck teeth or big ears, could lead to law suits!
All other previous topics:
These are:
No 1 Being truthful
No 2 Having a good sense of humour
No 3 Trusting individuals to do the job without interfering.
Previous Topic:
A report just out says that after ageism the next kind of discrimination will be "lookism"!
In other words, any comments in the workplace about over-weight people, "dumb blondes" or "gingas", short people, tall people, or skinny people, those with buck teeth or big ears, could lead to law suits!
All other previous topics:
Hot topic
Can you trust your work colleagues?
How do you know who you're working with? Can you trust your co-workers? A shocking statistic in the press recently reported that 80% of corporate fraud is committed by employees – what they chillingly call The Enemy Within.
Previous Topic:
How green are you?
Our recent poll showed some fascinating results and we'd like to know more. Over half of you said you have an active green policy in place - but what's covered by your green policy? Does it deal with travel, buying green products, and recycling?
How do you know who you're working with? Can you trust your co-workers? A shocking statistic in the press recently reported that 80% of corporate fraud is committed by employees – what they chillingly call The Enemy Within.
Previous Topic:
How green are you?
Our recent poll showed some fascinating results and we'd like to know more. Over half of you said you have an active green policy in place - but what's covered by your green policy? Does it deal with travel, buying green products, and recycling?
Outraged PA
I’m tired of hearing secretaries saying they could do their boss’s job!
This has got beyond a joke! I've just read another interview with a secretary who boasts that she could do her boss's job! I'm so tired of this!
Very few support staff could do their manager's job, day in, day out. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met one!
Previous Topic:
Will he just go away and leave me alone!
OK, I’ve nearly had it now. I am furious! I’ve been looking forward to these two weeks for the whole year. That blessed time when the boss goes on holiday and I’m able to revel in the peace and quiet of an office all to myself.
All other previous topics:
This has got beyond a joke! I've just read another interview with a secretary who boasts that she could do her boss's job! I'm so tired of this!
Very few support staff could do their manager's job, day in, day out. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever met one!
Previous Topic:
Will he just go away and leave me alone!
OK, I’ve nearly had it now. I am furious! I’ve been looking forward to these two weeks for the whole year. That blessed time when the boss goes on holiday and I’m able to revel in the peace and quiet of an office all to myself.
All other previous topics:
Help
Will I regret this for ever?
I’m really worried! Can anyone give me any advice? I have become a great fan of social networking sites in the last couple of years, and outside of work I spend quite a while chatting to mates and swapping photos, etc.
Previous Help Topic:
I’m out of my depth here!
Oh dear! I'm stuck! My boss has asked me to make sure all her business travel in future is as environmentally friendly as possible, and she also wants to know what her carbon footprint is.
All other previous topics:
I’m really worried! Can anyone give me any advice? I have become a great fan of social networking sites in the last couple of years, and outside of work I spend quite a while chatting to mates and swapping photos, etc.
Previous Help Topic:
I’m out of my depth here!
Oh dear! I'm stuck! My boss has asked me to make sure all her business travel in future is as environmentally friendly as possible, and she also wants to know what her carbon footprint is.
All other previous topics: