Seven workers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea have been suspended for posting “inappropriate” comments on the social networking site, Facebook.
The employees are now being investigated and face disciplinary action after being caught writing personal comments on the site.
Workers are banned from accessing social networking websites on the computers they use during their shifts; however the staff are thought to have posted the remarks outside of work and were later reported to management.
A DVLA spokesman said:
“Although instances are extremely rare, any inappropriate postings by staff made outside of work will be investigated and could result in disciplinary action.
“All staff are aware of the guidance in place and are reminded on a regular basis.”
The organisation sacked three workers in 2011 for misusing Facebook and Twitte
I think individuals need to be more sensible about what they put put on social media sites. OK, nobody cares if you are having a bacon sandwich with brown sauce, but when it comes to making comments about work or work colleagues then employers are quite right to exercise appropriate disciplinary action.
Similarly if you publish the reason you don’t turn in for work is because you got hammered the night before and were out until 4.00 am an employee would be quite justified in docking a days pay.
To my mind social media sites are a waste of time and accessing them during work hours should be banned.
I firmly believe they have increased the degeneration of society and do little to enhance it.
They are dangerous and it has been shown how they can be used by criminals to take over others identities.