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Previous: Small Business' Economic Confidence Continues To Improve by Gayle Kesten I realize I'm preaching to the choir when I say social networks represent an easy, cost-effective way to market your small business and connect with current and potential customers, colleagues, partners, etc. They're even a worthy source for screening potential employees. (Read my September post, "How Social Networks Can Stop You From Making A Bad Hire" for more on that.) But how about checking on employees who call in sick to work? Reuters reports that a woman took a day off from her job as Nationale Suisse -- she said she couldn't work in front of a computer and needed to be in the dark (migraine?) -- then was seen online making the Facebook rounds. Long story short, she lost her job, though, according to CNET (which kindly translated the following), she told Swiss daily newspaper 20 Minuten that her trust in the company was gone and she wouldn't have returned to her job anyway. The now ex-employee did accuse her employer of spying, but says she's not pursuing a lawsuit. And as with most situations in life, I can't help but think there are a few more sides to the story, one likely including a suspicious pattern of, cough, cough, staying home sick a few times too many. Then again, you could argue that no matter what, Nationale Suisse crossed the line. What do you think? Is there a bigger privacy issue? On a related note, a CNET video called "Don't Let Facebook Get You Fired," is worth a watch -- though not on company time. Posted on May 7, 2009 at 9:42 AM | Comments (9)Comments She’s stupid. But the company spying? not right! Posted by: None of your business on May 8, 2009 at 8:38 AM While I agree with Prasanthi that illness does not always confine you to bed, I see larger issues here: When forming an opinion on a matter, it’s better to consider just the facts, rather than viewing them through you preconceived ideas. I personally hate being “spied” upon. But if you consider the facts, seems a clear issue to me. Posted by: SayWhat-- on May 8, 2009 at 10:11 AM If employees want to take sick days because they’re sick of work, so be it. Employers need to recognize that sick days are there for the taking as part of the employment package. If an employee squanders their own sick days, they are accountable for that. Spying? Please don’t Mr. Employer. Posted by: Michelle Hill on May 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM There is not enough information in this article to place blame on either party. I can think of several ways Nationale Suisse could have learned about the employees Facebook activity. It does state in the article the employee needed to be in the dark, and yet she was on Facebook. But I have been sick in the morning and felt better in the afternoon and been able to do things other than lay on the couch, so why not her? Far too many questions and “what if’s” to lay the blame on either party. Posted by: Gary Butler on May 9, 2009 at 12:34 AM I think it was dumb of her to “make the rounds” on Facebook after calling in sick with that excuse! And I don’t believe it was beyond the realm of appropriateness for her employer to check – anyone can check anyone else on Facebook, that’s the point, but I think firing her was way too extreme. I agree that sometimes people just have to get away from their jobs. I’ve done it. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t. Bottom line: if someone who’s not sick calls in sick to work, they’ve done one of the following: a) they’ve used up a sick day for that purpose, and will be paid, risking not being paid if they really are sick, because they used their days up, or b) they will NOT be paid for that sick day, in which case what the heck is the problem? The employer’s not losing any money, and the person gets an unpaid day off. So what? If it’s worth that much to them, let them have it! Some of my jobs I’ve taken sick days and not been paid for them. It was worth it to me. One of the jobs I had a long time ago gave me a bunch of paid sick days… Problem is, I almost never get sick. So, I’d use ‘em here and there, throughout the year. They were there whether I used them or not, and sometimes they really saved my sanity. Posted by: Emily on May 9, 2009 at 6:34 PM All of the above are great comments on this subject. But what of accountability?? My feeling is this: If you are sick, you need to go home and go to bed and get well…The purpose of having a job in the first place is to be able to live in the manner you have become accustomed to. Surfing the web and running around in the social networks while you are sick is wasting time that you could be using to make yourself feel better, and if you are stressed out from your job, find another one or star an online business so you can stay home and not get fired. My mom always taught me that honesty was the best policy and you are always accountable for your own actions, and every lie you tell will be found out. This is really good advice…..and I have lived it all my life. Every action will produce a reaction, isn’t this Newtons Law or something similar?? If you are healthy and take sick days, you are in actuality stealing time from the company you work for, whether it “comes in your package or not” you are still not being accountable and honest with yourself or your employer. Posted by: Linda on May 11, 2009 at 6:59 AM Thank you, everyone, for weighing in. Here are some more opinions: http://www.smallbizresource.com/blog/main/archives/2009/05/sbr_readers_sho.html Posted by: Gayle Kesten on May 11, 2009 at 4:23 PM If the company gives sick time, you are allowed to that time and if you prefer to go to sleep or go to face book is your option. After you spent all your sick days you have to go to work no matter what! sick or not. I worked for that type of company. Sick and vacation days were in the same package and I never could use all of them because the office was under staffed!. Posted by: Amy on May 28, 2009 at 10:24 PM |
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Employer Uses Facebook To Snag 'Sick' Worker
I think its pretty sad that Nationale Suisse lost her job. ‘Sick’ does not limit a person to bed, unable to move and do anything routine. Sickeness can be due to stress; and at times people may want to take a break from the office routine. I am sure most of us will not consider this as a crime!!! It was a very drastic step (immature, iilogical) taken by the employer. And it definitely is spying!!
Posted by: Prasanthi on May 8, 2009 at 12:11 AM