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I was wondering if anyone could give me a little advice please?
I have two colleagues in work who were both good friends previously, unfortunately their relationship has broken down and they are now in dispute over bullying, with each side trying to point the finger at the other. The bullying relates to these two persons and no one else.
During the investigation into the above, each has submitted screenshots of a Whatsapp group I, as well as others (including both parties in dispute) am part of as evidence of bullying. None of this evidence involves me and I am not accused of bullying by either side.
In the submitted chats, I, along with other participants have made comments making light of management (and their short comings) and I am now worried that managment might use these as an excuse to discipline myself and others. The comments weren't partically bad, just fed up with work talk, but management is known to be quite petty and has a history of trying such things.
Just to confirm, messages sent were between friends who happen to be colleagues, outside of work hours, away from work property and not using any work equipment.
I'm just wondering if I or others not involved in the bullying case can be punished for these comments about management in such a private setting. Does an employer have the right to use private, encrypted conversations as a means to discipline in this way? I have heard that management may try to phrase the group as 'colleague networking' as a way to justify their using it. I'm not sure if that is a valid point or something they have just made up.
I hope I've been clear in the above and I thank anyone for whatever advice they can offer, be that even just pointing me in the right direction?
Kind Regards,
Man-at-arms
I have two colleagues in work who were both good friends previously, unfortunately their relationship has broken down and they are now in dispute over bullying, with each side trying to point the finger at the other. The bullying relates to these two persons and no one else.
During the investigation into the above, each has submitted screenshots of a Whatsapp group I, as well as others (including both parties in dispute) am part of as evidence of bullying. None of this evidence involves me and I am not accused of bullying by either side.
In the submitted chats, I, along with other participants have made comments making light of management (and their short comings) and I am now worried that managment might use these as an excuse to discipline myself and others. The comments weren't partically bad, just fed up with work talk, but management is known to be quite petty and has a history of trying such things.
Just to confirm, messages sent were between friends who happen to be colleagues, outside of work hours, away from work property and not using any work equipment.
I'm just wondering if I or others not involved in the bullying case can be punished for these comments about management in such a private setting. Does an employer have the right to use private, encrypted conversations as a means to discipline in this way? I have heard that management may try to phrase the group as 'colleague networking' as a way to justify their using it. I'm not sure if that is a valid point or something they have just made up.
I hope I've been clear in the above and I thank anyone for whatever advice they can offer, be that even just pointing me in the right direction?
Kind Regards,
Man-at-arms
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