facebook group

[cottonbud]

One of my son's started a facebook group regarding where he "used" to work, he called it the XXXX crew and there were quite a few members. Someone from head office was nosing around and found this group and printed off all the conversations from all the members. Today one the of the members of staff was called in and was threatened with a disciplinary because of the remarks that she made, none of which were damaging to the company or bringing it down in any way. She warned me tonight to ask my son to remove the group and also to remove myself from it as well. My son no longer works there and hasnt for the past 3 weeks or so. Apparently everyone who has joined the group is going to be receiving a letter from head office, those who have commented will be getting a "talking to" from someone from head office. I also had made the most innane comments, which had nothing to do with anything and were totally obscure Basically what i need to find out is under the freedom of speech act, where do people stand when they are not slagging off a company but are talking very generally. I understand that my son had used a "copyrighted" picture of this company that being the outside of one of the shops, apparently they have said that unless he removes this "copyrighted" picture then they have the right to take him to court and take legal proceedings against him, to me this is rather extreme !!. I understand the principle of this as lots of things on the www are indeed under copyrite but surely we have a right to talk about things that are under no circumstances slagging off a company. Any help on the legality of freedom of speech regarding this matter would be very much appreciated,

[factor-fiction]

Why waste your life worrying about these things. Perhaps your son should just remove/edit the pages - are they that important to him in their currrent form. That would save hassle for his mates and for you who seems to be doing the worrying on his behalf.
Or just leave him to sort his own problems out.

[buildersmate]

A copyrighted picture is one taken by an individual who puts the appropriate C mark in the corner and claims the copyright of the picture. The material in the picture, if taken from a legal place (the public highway) can in no way be 'copyright' in terms of the content of the picture.

[daniela31]

The name of the group could be changed. Inform all the members of the name change so that they can still be in contact with each other. The said company then should have no grievance as long as their name is not involved.

[cottonbud]

the only reason i''m concerned is the fact that i too joined and also i wrote on the wall, and apparently anyone who wrote on the wall will get a talking to from head office, while anyone who joined will be getting a letter from head office. Today i was waiting for the "talk" but nothing materialised. No one on the wall said anything illegal and no body really slagged off the company, so under the freedom of speech law i can't see the problem and I now see it that the company is acting like a dictatorship !!! it's ridiculous. Surely we have a right under our democratic country to say what we want as long as it isn't illegal. Is this the case?

[bednobs]

i have never heard of the freedom of speech act - are you in the uk?

anyway, i would imagine you'll find something either in your contract or in the emloyee policies and procedures against it, which is why they are prohibiting it.

Ask them where.

[cottonbud]

yes im in the uk and did some research last night about the freedom of speech act and freedom of expression also. I can see nothing in the contract that says you arent allowed to say i dont want to wear that t-shirt, which is what i personally put on the wall,it was just that some "jumped up" bint saw the wall and thought it wasn't appropriate for the company, for people to be saying how they feel and believe me, there was NO slagging off policies or anything like that and to be threatened with a written warning for writing " i want one of those" regarding a t-shirt is to me utterly ridiculous. Thanks for your words everyone.