Karma IS On My Side

"PatBateman" (PatBateman)
07/31/2014 at 09:39 • Filed to: Social Media-crity

Something very funny happened over the past 24 hours involving my nanny. You should all probably read this, as it might teach you a lesson about social media.

So my nanny, a 20-something college student, has a public twitter account just like most early 20-somethings do. Unbeknownst to her, we monitor it. Closely. Lately, we've been a bit annoyed by some of the things that she's been saying on twitter about my three children and her job. She asked for last week off (which she got), and then suddenly told us last Friday that she'll be taking ANOTHER week off starting THIS Friday. We were NOT happy about this. I guess it's time to find a fill in, right?

So last night, my wife checks the nanny's twitter feed again and she said that she's QUITTING HER JOB TOMORROW (today)!! O REILLY?! We call the fill-in nanny (who comes VERY highly recommended from a friend of ours) and she can work the rest of the summer for us. Bases covered. The funny thing, though?

We agreed to give her an extra $200 bonus at the end of her work day today as part of a raise package a few weeks ago. But since she quit last night via her TWITTER, she no longer qualifies for that.

The lesson? Be VERY careful what you say on social media. Tipping your hand on future moves might just put you in a bad predicament.

DISCUSSION (16)

505Turbeaux > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 09:41

yep, I keep an eyeball on my employees as well. My boss is on social too but more of an idiot about it.

spanfucker retire bitch > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 09:45

It's amazing how people don't even realize what they say on their public accounts is in fact - shockingly - public.

OPPOsaurus WRX > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 09:52

you should reply to that one. Her friends will love it.

XJDano > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 09:52

did she tell you she was quitting yet or do you plan to have a backup in place when she gets there, then say,

oh, I read you quit, GTFO.

PatBateman > 505Turbeaux
07/31/2014 at 10:03

If it's not about kids, cars, or football, you won't find it on my Facebook feed.

Sterile.

PatBateman > spanfucker retire bitch
07/31/2014 at 10:04

You know, I found this quite humorous too.

And yes, your bosses are looking at it.

PatBateman > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/31/2014 at 10:07

I almost did last night. But that might have put a kink in my plan as to getting my baby seat and house key back.

jariten1781 > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 10:11

I always tell young employees to never mention their job on social media.

The analogy I use is that it used to be risky venting to someone at a bar about your boss because the annoyed guy next to you may, unbeknownst to you, be you bosses brother. Stuff like that actually happened too. With social media it's like getting up on stage with a megaphone and you're almost guaranteed that someone who knows your boss will hear it. Even with that early word of warning I've had to let two people go for saying stupid shit on facebook/twitter/whatever...I don't even monitor them, but it still has a way of getting back to me.

PatBateman > XJDano
07/31/2014 at 10:14

We had to find a back up nanny for the time off she decided to spring on us less than a week ago. Like I said, though, we have been monitoring her Twitter page and wanted to be ready if/when she decided to up and quit without warning.

I do admit that it was very very nice to be able to tell her to GTFO this morning based on her resignation via twitter.

PatBateman > jariten1781
07/31/2014 at 10:23

I follow a very simple rule regarding Facebook (the only social media platform I use): If I don't want someone seeing it, ever, I don't post it. This basically means I simply post about sports, cars, and my kids.

And I absolutely agree with your assessment of social media. But peeps be dumb sometimes.

jariten1781 > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 10:46

Both of the ones I had to fire were exactly the same. Called in sick then a couple days later someone else walks in and is like "Why did you give Susie leave on Tuesday, you know we were swamped?" Explain that she called in sick. Get shown picture they posted (one went on a hike with a new boyfriend, one went to some music festival).

Call offenders into my office to give them a chance to come clean. Both denied and got indignant when I suggested I'd 'heard' something different. "You know I would never do something like that" etc. Showed them the photos and ask when they were taken then...TEARS/apologies. I totally would have kept both of them if they'd just come clean when confronted, but I ain't abiding by feigned self-righteous anger, lying to my face when they knew something was up, and subsequent guilt trips.

PatBateman > jariten1781
07/31/2014 at 10:54

That is hilarious! I firmly believe that social media will be the undoing for an entire generation's bright future. They post too much information too freely. I'm not saying that I was an angel when I was younger, but I didn't proclaim the stupid shit that I did on the internet for all the world to have access to, forever.

zeontestpilot > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 11:12

That's one of the reasons why I don't really mention where I work online. The company I work for has many rules about social media. It's not that I break them, I just don't want to be scrutinized for everything I say or do. Everything is public, even Oppo, you have to be careful. Anything can be found with the right keywords to search for. The last time I mentioned anything work related was when the company I work for and another company (fruit-based) went into a partnership together .

PatBateman > zeontestpilot
07/31/2014 at 11:33

There are ways of finding out out secret identities. Most involve hacking, but fairly simple hacking. I'm extremely careful about what I say online, anonymous or not, as my industry is HEAVILY regulated and monitored (finance).

If I say something about my job online, it's always very positive and very general. "They" are watching us. ;)

zeontestpilot > PatBateman
07/31/2014 at 11:36

Yes...it is fun working for my company. I love it. I will work here forever....

PatBateman > zeontestpilot
07/31/2014 at 11:43

Oh lawd!! Yeah, I bet they know every keystroke you put into any electronic device 24/7/365. We also have teams of techies that are constantly looking to see if we say something we shouldn't say online. Not worth the risk to give someone a stock tip online.