Editorial: Private words going public

Photo / Ben Fraser

A recent ruling that backed an employer's decision to sack a staff member for "liking" derogatory comments about the company on Facebook should serve as a warning.

As reported in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, the Employment Relations Authority ruled against employee Rachel Blylevens' unfair dismissal claim.

She had been employed by Kidicorp as centre manager of Topkids Waihi Road Centre for two-and-a-half years and was dismissed for serious misconduct in May.

Ms Blylevens had "liked" and commented on derogatory posts, which ERA member Rachel Larmer found "fundamentally undermined her ability to operate credibly as a leader and to achieve positive relationships with management, staff and parents". The posts, which referred to Kidicorp as "striking again" through "allegations of bullying", were made by Rachel Rolston, who acted as Ms Blylevens's advocate.

Ms Larmer described Ms Blylevens' actions as her practically standing outside the centre she managed handing out copies of Ms Rolston's derogatory articles about Kidicorp while telling people "here is an interesting article - it is good to be informed".

Employees complaining about their place of work is nothing new but in the past those conversations usually occurred at home or in hushed tones around the water cooler. All that changed with social media. These conversations went public.

This is because Facebook and other social media sites can blur the lines between work and private lives.

It is easy to gain the impression online posts are a string of conversations between friends when, in fact, as pointed out by Ms Larmer in her decision, these conversations are occurring in public.