Employment Law Q

[cassa333]

Hi,

If an employee is 'gossiping' to staff and customers (some of our staff are customers) at work about how the busines is in financial trouble and that it will be closing soon can the employer tell him off/give him a warning?

It isn't true but even if it were I don't think the employee would be allowed to say such things and get away with it?

Thank you

[Peaspeculiars]

It's not very professional to be gossiping to customers about the financial state of affairs of their company, particularly if unfounded.
What do your employees contracts say in relation to professional conduct and disciplinary action (I presume this is your own business and these are your employees?)

[Cloverjo]

I don't know anything about employment law, but it must be ok for the boss to tell the employee keep his mouth shut.

[Maydup]

Have a word with the person first and an informal chat. Expain how unprofessional it is and that any more of it will lead to disciplinary action. That way you save yourself a whole load of paperwork. If it continues after the chat then you go in hard with a warning and even dismissal as it would be gross misconduct at that stage.

Can you imagine for one minute an employee of M&S keeping their job after gossiping about finances?

If there are rumours about finances then knock them on the head. What's made them think like that? If its a lack of customers tell them how yiu had budgeted for a quiet month, or whatever.

[Peter Pedant]

I cant find the quote,
but a company sued a newspaper for a report that it was under investigation by the X office and this report affected share price

I would make sure it is untrue - the employer doesnt not wish to face a charge of "trading whilst insolvent" and the ex-employee offering to a be witness that 'oo yes, everyone knew .... '

try this:
http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free-legal-information/employment-law/employees-obligations-to-employer.html

I was hoping to find that one of the employees beneficent duties is not to *** off his employer - but I can't

Recent examples of employers chasing their employees over face book pages of 'I hate my job'

[Peter Pedant]

maydups suggested course of action is quite good
I would follow that

[buildersmate]

So would I.