Facebook harassment from work colleague

Sonovagun

I'm being Haressed on facebook by a work colleague. He's not a facebook friend, he's just a work colleague. He makes comments on posts i make on mutual friends pages, mostly obscenities about my size. I have confronted him in work and this usually ends in more abuse and aggressive arguments! I have highlighted this to many team managers, it has been documented and HR are aware of this problem, yet nothing has been done. I feel they believe this is a outside of work problem and they don't have to do anything about it.

Has anyone experienced problems like this? Any advice?

poisonated

It is a work problem unfortunately. It is a very childish thing to do. The best advice I can give you is to ignore him.

tenchi-fan

If your page is public and your friends pages are public he is allowed to comment without being your friend (although he shouldn't harass you)... but that's why it's called a "public" page.

Why don't you just block him? Click on his page, and there's a link at the bottom-right saying "Report/block this person"

There's not reason to make it a work issue by trying to bring HR/management into your squabbles. It will damage your reputation at work.

funkyjebus

Its irrelevant that its a public foroum, I'd bring it straight to HR.

That stuff only belongs at the playground (if even), he needs to be thaught a lesson onhow to conduct himself in the adult world, and if your HR is any use, they'll do it for you (if they don't I'd bluff taking a harrasment suit).

As far as damaging you reputation in work, it would be unacceptable if your Hr department did not deal with this in a confidencial manner. As far as the bully making thing any harder, I'd let himself dig deeper.

uberwolf

tenchi-fan wrote: »

There's not reason to make it a work issue by trying to bring HR/management into your squabbles. It will damage your reputation at work.

it is already a work issue. His conduct is grounds for dismissal IMO. Certainly would be in my company.

Sonovagun

Thank you for your replys.

bbam

Sonovagun wrote: »

I'm being Haressed on facebook by a work colleague. He's not a facebook friend, he's just a work colleague. He makes comments on posts i make on mutual friends pages, mostly obscenities about my size. I have confronted him in work and this usually ends in more abuse and aggressive arguments! I have highlighted this to many team managers, it has been documented and HR are aware of this problem, yet nothing has been done. I feel they believe this is a outside of work problem and they don't have to do anything about it.

Has anyone experienced problems like this? Any advice?

the fact that he's bullying through Facebook isn't important, he's still someone with whom you only have a work "relationship" and who chooses to bully you, you should push HR a bit more..

Hands up I know nothing about Facebook and have never been on the website but can you look at when his posts are being made... Wouldn't it be sweet to add to HR that he was doing this during work time ;)

highgiant1985

bbam wrote: »

the fact that he's bullying through Facebook isn't important, he's still someone with whom you only have a work "relationship" and who chooses to bully you, you should push HR a bit more..

Hands up I know nothing about Facebook and have never been on the website but can you look at when his posts are being made... Wouldn't it be sweet to add to HR that he was doing this during work time ;)

unless the OP was also posting during work hours :P

OP I'd recommend taking screenshots of his remarks on facebook and saving them for future reference in case this evidence is ever needed. Otherwise theres a risk he could delete his previous comments and you'd end up in a war of words.

If you feel he is not learning the lesson give a written compliant to the HR department about his behaviour with evidence of what he has post (a screenshot) but make sure to keep a copy of what you give them.

You might not ever need this but in case things go bad the worst case could be you feel you have to leave the job as work continue to do nothing to help solve the situation you'd need this evidence to prove that you'd tried to solve this by working with the company. Also make sure to keep a copy of anything they give you and keep a diary of what they tell you with dates/times. lastly keep the evidence on a laptop / email account that is yours personnally rather than the company pc / laptop just in case so you can still access it if needed.

Acoshla

tenchi-fan wrote: »

Why don't you just block him? Click on his page, and there's a link at the bottom-right saying "Report/block this person".

Blocking him won't make a difference, as that won't stop him leaving comments on mutual friends' walls, only the OP's.

But if you report him instead of blocking him facebook should follow up on it, I reported someone to them for copyright infringement and they dealt with it within a few days.

But yeah screenshots of the comments would be a good idea so that you have them to hand.

tricky D

Screenshors, saved pages and keep a diary. HR need to start doing something about this bullying or else risk becoming part of the problem (negligence, duty of care). If this starts to affect your well-being, insist they take action or get a solictor involved which should light a fire under their behinds.

jamimon

Sorry to be a pest but why is this even a work issue at all?

Sonovagun

Cos he's a work colleague, i only know him from work and the bullying and harressment has risen from a work issue.

I've had a terrible week trying to get hold of someone to talk to. Spoke to managers and they all said i needed to talk to HR. Couldn't get hold of HR last monday and they have been on a weeks holiday since then. Since then there's been one more FB comment aimed at me. I'm hoping to talk to HR on tuesday, i will update then.

jamimon

I don't understand why should you take in so seriously. I would just ignore him completely. If it was me, I would not even going to mention the word facebook in complaint, its just too funny. Anyway good luck with whatever you want to do.

LegacyUser

Tell HR, by email, that you wish to know the procedure for making a formal/informal complaint towards your colleague, and watch them sit up.

You should not have to put up with his behaviour, and to ignore it would not be the right thing to do.

I dont understand why one poster here things its funny to be harassed by someone you spend 8/9hrs working with 5 day a week!

Dare I say, they have never been harassed at work or by a colleague, and so their advice is limited. If you've ever been through something like this, and know how horrible and anxious it makes you feel - and thats just to sort it out, then come back and give your 2 cents.

Pineapple stu

Just report it to facebook and let them deal with it. Send them a link to the offending posts.
Would you report it to your boss if it happened in a pub?

Shelflife

Pineapple stu wrote: »

Just report it to facebook and let them deal with it. Send them a link to the offending posts.
Would you report it to your boss if it happened in a pub?

Agree with this, while it may be an unpleasant experience im at a loss to see how the company can intervene in something that is not happening in the work place. Where do they draw the line? if you are playing a sport angainst a co worker and you both get into a fight should that be reported? if your coworker chats up your wife /girlfriend and it kicks off in the pub should that be reported?

If its something thats carrying on outside the workplace i can well understand the employer not wanting to get involved. In this instance the employer might call both in and request that they patch things up , but i feel thats as far as they can go.

Max Power1

It's a work issue.

Did you know that if you are socialising with fellow employees outside of work you can still be sued for harassment/bullying in the work place for example.

LegacyUser

OP - most the people on here DO NOT know what they are talking about, because they have never experienced it/been through it.

Your best bet is to ask a manager, in confidence, their advice, and/or HR.

The OP does not have to put up with being upset and feeling uncomfortable in work. The people in this country have alot to answer for when it comes to harassment issues-the usual advice of "brush it under the carpet" or "ignore it and it will go away" or "ah shur its nothing" works - until it happens to YOU.

Pineapple stu

Not if it happens outside the company. You can personally sue but it has nothing to do with the work place unless its done from the company P.C etc.
All this person needs to do is block and report the offender to facebook and not go searching for offending comments on other people's pages about them. If its being done in the workplace then take it up with the management.

Its simple, its not bullying or harassment in the workplace if it didnt happen in the workplace.

funkyjebus

Pineapple stu wrote: »

Not if it happens outside the company. You can personally sue but it has nothing to do with the work place unless its done from the company P.C etc.
All this person needs to do is block and report the offender to facebook and not go searching for offending comments on other people's pages about them. If its being done in the workplace then take it up with the management.

Its simple, its not bullying or harassment in the workplace if it didnt happen in the workplace.

Where did you get that from. That is quite the erroneous statement to make, have you anything to back that up or are you just assuming? By that logic, I could walk out the front doors of my work with a colleague and once a few metres away, attack him with a crowbar and nothing can be done in my workplace (once I'm not locked up for assault, of course:rolleyes:) and my colleague would still have to work with me! I'm afraid that not how the world works.

As an insurance broker dealing with cases like these monthly, I'm 100% positive that this is most certinaly a employment practices liability issue and would fall under bullying at the workplace.
Read up first! sample link . There are many more articles on this (i've read many industry articles on this in the last few years warning of the potential exposure an employer has from such incidents), but google throws this up quick.

In short OP, despite what others may say, this is without question a work issue, but only if you want it to be.

Best of luck

Shelflife

Funkyjebus, Im not doubting what you are saying, im just wondering where do you draw the line ? at what point does incidents that happen outside work become a work issue.

What can in the (OPs case) the company do to the other party without impinging on their right. If hes sitting in his own home leaving comments on pages what can the company do?

Is it ant different to him sitting in a bar near the op making snide comments, if my company told me how to behave on my own time i wouldnt be too happy about it.

dont get me wrong what the happening to the op is wrong, its cheap shots, cowardly and nasty but aside from having a word with him i fail to see how disciplinary proceedings against him wouldnt backfire on the company.

To me it seems as if the company is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea here.

funkyjebus

Shelflife wrote: »

Funkyjebus, Im not doubting what you are saying, im just wondering where do you draw the line ? at what point does incidents that happen outside work become a work issue.

What can in the (OPs case) the company do to the other party without impinging on their right. If hes sitting in his own home leaving comments on pages what can the company do?

Is it ant different to him sitting in a bar near the op making snide comments, if my company told me how to behave on my own time i wouldnt be too happy about it.

dont get me wrong what the happening to the op is wrong, its cheap shots, cowardly and nasty but aside from having a word with him i fail to see how disciplinary proceedings against him wouldnt backfire on the company.

To me it seems as if the company is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea here.

Impinging whose rights, the harassing employee or the employer? The line is not difinitive, and would be dealt with on a case by case situation. Reading the OP leads me to believe that an employer could not ignore this, especially given the fact that haressment is immortalised on a website that colleagues can view at any time. That fact alone makes it a work issue in my eyes. Its a unfortunate fact, but with the rise in socal networking, past conventions dont work and new laws must be inacted. Before social networking, there was no equivalent to whats happened to the op, and the laws are still catching up.

From citizens information:

Harassment can be by a fellow worker, your boss or someone in a superior position, a client, a customer or any other business contact. Harassment can take place at work or on a training course, on a work trip, at a work social event or any other occasion connected with your job.
Under the Acts, your employer may also be held responsible if harassment takes place completely outside the course of your employment but you are treated differently at work because of your rejection or acceptance of the harassment. If you bring a claim against your employer for harassment, your employer may have a defence by showing that he or she took reasonably practical steps to prevent the harassment from happening or to prevent you from being treated differently at work. If you bring a claim under the Acts, you cannot then be subjected to victimisation at work.

Shelflife

Hi Funkyjebus, i was referring to the harassers rights being impinged.

It seems to me in this instance the op is being bullied and demands protection , but the harrasser could say that his privacy and freedom of speech are been denied and what he does in the privacy of his own home is his own business.

To me its hard for the company to get this right , once you start warning people in regard to their actions away from the work place you are on dangerous ground.

funkyjebus

Shelflife wrote: »

Hi Funkyjebus, i was referring to the harassers rights being impinged.

It seems to me in this instance the op is being bullied and demands protection , but the harrasser could say that his privacy and freedom of speech are been denied and what he does in the privacy of his own home is his own business.

To me its hard for the company to get this right , once you start warning people in regard to their actions away from the work place you are on dangerous ground.

I admit, its dangerous ground, but action must be taken. Either way the employer is in a tricky situation. But as an employer, I know which side I'd want to be on if it ever got out to the public or went to court.

In addition, freedom of speach does not include defermation, slander or libel and I would find it hard (although of course I don't know) to believe that the bullying occured without this. Everyone is liable for what the say, especially if it defames an individual.

Pineapple stu

funkyjebus wrote: »

Where did you get that from. That is quite the erroneous statement to make, have you anything to back that up or are you just assuming? By that logic, I could walk out the front doors of my work with a colleague and once a few metres away, attack him with a crowbar and nothing can be done in my workplace (once I'm not locked up for assault, of course:rolleyes:) and my colleague would still have to work with me! I'm afraid that not how the world works.

As an insurance broker dealing with cases like these monthly, I'm 100% positive that this is most certinaly a employment practices liability issue and would fall under bullying at the workplace.
Read up first! sample link . There are many more articles on this (i've read many industry articles on this in the last few years warning of the potential exposure an employer has from such incidents), but google throws this up quick.

In short OP, despite what others may say, this is without question a work issue, but only if you want it to be.

Best of luck

Nonsense. If you have an agrument with a co worker in a bar in Spain whilst on holidays , is it bullying in the workplace? No its not , there is a lot of over reaction on here to an issue that can be cut in the bud by a few simple measures which ive already mentioned.
If it happens in the workplace in worktime then you have a case. Dont talk to me about insurance brokers as all they are after is the money anyway possible.

Bandana boy

Bullying at work is illegal and the employer has a duty to stop it

Waiting till you pass a premises line to start your bullying does not protect either the employer or the bully from consequences. This would be an "absurdity" and seen as a means to circumvent the law.

Make an official complaint to HR keeping a record of everything you share with HR and copies of any documents you share with HR. This should get them moving ,if it does not contact either a solicitor or the citizens advice bureau on options to take it further.

Regarding the topic of bullying -Bullying is very serious and can be really tough to be on the receiving end of it.
If you have not experienced or witnessed bullying then you do not understand the question being posed.Comments like shrug it of or man up just expose your ignorance on the topic.
If somebody posted looking for advice on how to fix the engine of a car and you did not know what end of the car housed the engine ,you would not post "advice" .

Bandana boy

Pineapple stu wrote: »

Nonsense. If you have an agrument with a co worker in a bar in Spain whilst on holidays , is it bullying in the workplace? No its not , there is a lot of over reaction on here to an issue that can be cut in the bud by a few simple measures which ive already mentioned.
If it happens in the workplace in worktime then you have a case. Dont talk to me about insurance brokers as all they are after is the money anyway possible.

If a co-worker was bullying you (requires more than one incident) then regardless of the location if brought to the employers attention they have a duty to try and protect there employee.

A one of argument outside work would not be bullying but if it was work related it could be considered harassment.

funkyjebus

Pineapple stu wrote: »

Nonsense. If you have an agrument with a co worker in a bar in Spain whilst on holidays , is it bullying in the workplace? No its not , there is a lot of over reaction on here to an issue that can be cut in the bud by a few simple measures which ive already mentioned.
If it happens in the workplace in worktime then you have a case. Dont talk to me about insurance brokers as all they are after is the money anyway possible.

Oh dear.

An arguement no, of course not, that indicates it was two sided and a one off event:rolleyes:. If however you were bullied while in spain by a colleague and it in any way could be deemed to affect the bullied employee at work, then yes unequivocally it would be deemed to fall under bullying at the workplace under Irish law.

In addition, I have no interest in talking to you about Insurance brokers, and your opinions (as misguided as they may be) regarding same, I was mearly relating where I get my basis of information and experience in these matters from. What experience do you have that might give credibility to your statements.

Sure, it's true it could be nipped in the bud and not made a work matter, however the fact remains (and yes it is a fact, refer to the Employment Equality Act if you are still in any doubt) that the employee has a right to make it a work matter and the employers have a duty to investigate and discipline the offending employee is deemed necessary.

I'm not looking for an arguement here, but the OP dererves to know their rights and stating that they don't have a avenue to go down with the employer is highly erroneous and will only lead to confusion. If you have any evidence to support your 'theory' then I'd love to see it.

Shelflife

Of course theres nothing to stop the OP going to HR and asking for help. But as the actions are happening outside of the work place and if the other party is behaving professionally at work i cant see what the HR can do apart from asking them to cop on and stop.

I just feel that this would be a reasonable response from HR as i cant see how they could discipline them.

funkyjebus

Sonovagun wrote: »

I'm being Haressed on facebook by a work colleague. He's not a facebook friend, he's just a work colleague. He makes comments on posts i make on mutual friends pages, mostly obscenities about my size. I have confronted him in work and this usually ends in more abuse and aggressive arguments! I have highlighted this to many team managers, it has been documented and HR are aware of this problem, yet nothing has been done. I feel they believe this is a outside of work problem and they don't have to do anything about it.

Has anyone experienced problems like this? Any advice?

Obviously we don't know the full story, but the above states the abuse has splilled over to the work enviornment. Therefore work matter.

But as Shelflife has said, it should be brought to your HR dept and depending on the level or severity of the bullying, a simple cop might be all that required to put this in the past.

I'd hope that we can all agree that it should at least be discussed with HR confidentially (if the OP warrants!).

pow wow

It should, but it will most likely be totally uncharted territory for HR (and may be why their response hasn't been as helpful as the OP might like to date). It is still very much a grey area. To the OP I'd advise that you make crystal clear to HR that this is continuing at work and is affecting that environment in which they expect you to perform your duties. For the less pro-active HR folks that might be all they need to hear from you.