company fraternization policy?

Question

Hi my company has a fraternization policy between employees and managers. I am a manager and I have some of them on my friends on myspace. I left a public comment about two employees on one of my friends myspace pages. She is my subordinate. The comment was of a joking nature but could be considered mean to be honest. This employee that works under me is quitting and doesnt like me so he is attempting to take me down with him. He has obtained a copy of the comment I made on this myspace page. Can he legally use a comment I made almost a month ago against me while trying to prove I show favoritism and Im "unprofessional." He is out for blood and is reaching in my opinion, but can he use these comments against me ? Should I be worried about losing my job because of a myspace comment. Is this against fraternization to have subordinates as my friends? Please help, Im really stressing about this.

Thanks

Answer 1

You indicate that your company has fraternization policies between employees and managers, but don't specifically spell out what their policies are...much would depend on if they have a formal "no fraternization" between subordinates and managers (some do) or just against romantic involvements (which nearly all employers have). Check your company handbook or contact your Human Resources Dept. for clarification if you are not sure.

As to will he be able to use the MySpace comments against you, yes, he can.

You showed extremely poor judgement to post any sort of negative comment about any of your employees in a public forum and it is totally unprofessional. It will be up to your employer, their policies and your overall performance as to whether or not they choose to give you a warning, demote you to a lower position, or terminate you over this incident.

As an above poster indicated, work is work, you need to be friendly with your subordinates, but it is foolish to become close friends with any of them...keep business and personal life separate.

Answer 2

Depend on your companies mangement. Have you ever given em any reason to believe you tend to perferre an employee over the other? If not they should realize (And I hope they are not too old to understant the concept of blogs and myspace) that this was an idle comment not unlike one you would make at a bar. As long as it was not, racist, sexist or such you should be OK. When asked about it, be up front, and truthfull about the comment, also I would let my supervisor know of the up coming issue with this moron.

Answer 3

Yes, You should be worried.
For one, you should not try to make friend's at work.
work is work.
When you start to become friendly with other worker's.
They can fire you for being to friendly to your co-workers
I for get how company's put it term's.
Be professional , and request for an transfer for an different location. And say nothing to nobody but to your boss.
Hopefully, This will pass. But you really should take your job more seriously!