Is a faceoff on Facebook between employees my problem? Help!

Dear Aunty B,

I am having problems with two of my staff who are having a fight on Facebook.

It started when one of them was home sick for a day and the other one wrote to her friends that she had had a hard day because she had to do the sick person’s work. The sick staff member pointed out it wasn’t her fault she was sick. And it went from there.

What has happened is one of them kept going after the other stopped and has written some nasty things about the sick employee (who is now better.) The sick employee has complained to me that she feels she is being bullied because the other employee has lots of friends on Facebook who are our staff and her colleagues.

But I have no say about Facebook as it is a personal thing out of hours. I told her to take down the few comments she made about the other employee and ignore her and that I couldn’t do anything, but after reading about how that woman fell down the stairs and Telstra got blamed I am not so sure.

Have I done the right thing?
Victoria

Dear Have I done the right thing,

Of course you haven’t. You have an unprofessional situation right under your nose and you should act immediately.

Check that the sick/now better employee has taken down her comments. And then call in second offender and tell her you don’t tolerate disparaging comments about colleagues, whether they are said in the workplace, on Facebook or written in 20-foot letters in the sky.

Explain to her how the other employee feels and that her behaviour is affecting the workplace. Tell her to take down the comments and to go out of her way to be professional and friendly towards her colleague.

Usually when you spell out how someone’s rude, grumpy or bullying behaviour is affecting the workplace and colleagues people respond positively. Often they have not even realised how they are coming across and the effect they are having.

If she doesn’t respond in the way you expect, put her on notice that you will take this matter further. Always remember that people have the right to work in a workplace free of harassment and bullying and it is your job as a boss to ensure this is the case.

Be smart,
Your Aunty B

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