Made a Stupid Joke, Now Your Manager Taking You to HR

itstuan on 14/05/2017 - 10:52
Last edited 14/05/2017 - 12:07 by 1 other user

Hey OB peeps
Long story short, I work in a team of 5. We used to joke around in a private group chat and laughed it off with no harm intention. We got our work done, that's the main thing. Our ex-manager was always cool with it, no problems. Few months ago, a new manager started. He was added into this private group chat. He seemed cool too and we would say stuff
However problems arose when I had a bit of work related disagreement with this new manager and he since then hold a grudge against me. Outside, he was still act like normal, that caught me off-guard.

Few weeks back, I made a lame joke in this private group chat, during work hours, but you can say its during my lunch break. This manager screenshot it and reported it to his superior and now they are taking me to HR.

My question is, if a employee say or do something inappropriate out of joke, should his manager remind them or give warning before taking this any further? And if they are taking me to HR, what are their intention? Give me official warning or trying to sack me? What are your thoughts on this?
Appreciate any insight.

Cheers

Education & Work

closed Comments

  • rawm on 16/05/2017 - 12:13
    +1

    The silence from OP after his meeting is deafening. Doesn't look good.

    • syousef on 16/05/2017 - 13:12

      He did respond on the previous page. IMHO it's pretty clear to me he shouldn't be responding. Admin would be doing him a favour to now lock this thread.

      • rawm on 16/05/2017 - 13:32
        +2

        Don't be so damn sensible mate. I bought some popcorn specifically to sit back and watch the fireworks!

        • syousef on 16/05/2017 - 13:37
          +2

          I don't enjoy watching people throw their careers away. He sounds stressed and a tad paranoid and you could easily argue he needs to work on his people skills but for all I know he's a decent worker otherwise.

  • Mrbean007 on 16/05/2017 - 12:48

    As my old manager use to say there are 15 exits choose one because he did :)

  • bugman on 16/05/2017 - 13:13

    I have worked for lots of different company's in Aus (2 of the top 5 included) and I can say that with out doubt HR teams are ALWAYS a bunch of duds. Not sure why but they are always unorganised, inept and just shocking to deal with. This is coming from a management and a personal level.

    I will never forgot I was working for 1 of the top 3 companies, there was an announcement that the call centre was getting sent offshore and so after call centre people had been told, we all got taken into a meeting (including the call centre people) on the details. This HR manager was going through the reason behind the move and at the end of it said joking to the call centre your losing you jobs cause we can pay them less. This was in front of whole division(600+ people).

    • KLoNe on 16/05/2017 - 14:04

      Did you take a screenshot?

    • shaybisc on 16/05/2017 - 14:22

      What other reason is there?

    • itstuan on 17/05/2017 - 09:07

      wow what an ass, you can tell he got the position there because he enjoys firing people.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 15:01

    If it's your first offence, let alone, first offence of this nature, then you will likely receive a warning.

    Take the hit and in future, do not participate in the group chat and certainly minimise any interaction with your manager. He/she sounds like a opportunistic coward (from your description and lack of reprimanding you in person).

  • jnguyen1988 on 16/05/2017 - 15:56

    GG TN

  • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 15:58

    who adds their manager to whatsapp, nice going nub

    '#no-ill-intention

  • lostn on 16/05/2017 - 17:22

    Happened to me in my first job. It was a big corporation and I was 18. Except the person I insulted jokingly was the MD. Oops.

    People just don't have a sense of humor these days.

    I did it in an email, and didn't get fired but I lost my email access. I decided to quit not long later though because I wasn't liking it there.

    • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 18:00

      Did they ground you and take away TV rights too?

      • lostn on 16/05/2017 - 19:53
        +1

        They asked me a bunch of queshions, and demanded they be answered immediately.

    • jnguyen1988 on 16/05/2017 - 18:56

      did it involve a pair of cufflinks?

      • lostn on 17/05/2017 - 00:17

        No just one.

  • Baghern on 16/05/2017 - 19:17

    You can always swing this back at the company if they play hardball.

    There was a culture that was not appropriate, the prior manager and new manager were involved. It could be implied they condoned it.

    Whats most likely to happen is this and other similar group chats are shut down, this will have the added benefit of everyone hating that manager.

  • realfancyman on 16/05/2017 - 19:25
    +2

    You post and ask for advice, but won't even tell us the joke??

    • itstuan on 17/05/2017 - 09:18

      I did, its in the thread. But let me tell you even a better joke, the reason we are breath tested is because some f#%tards drink, drive & kill people. Now, the f#%tards mentioned happens to be your employer.

  • HumDinger on 16/05/2017 - 22:01
    +1

    The OP should have rationalised the group dynamic more intensely, specifically when the new manager entered the fold and joined the work chat group. "It's all shits and giggles", until the new manager contracts diarrhoea and is using your reputation as toilet paper. Don't shit where you eat.

  • ClintonL on 17/05/2017 - 06:44

    Honestly your manager sounds like a knob. He joined the whatsapp which is not related to work just a private conversation knowing people joked around etc. You made a comment which is totally not related to work and he goes and cries to HR. However it's kinda suss the other ppl in your chat didn't take your side and shun him if that was only it. Unless they're sucking up to him. Any moral of the story, it's 2017 and people will get offended and try pin you on anything.

    • itstuan on 17/05/2017 - 09:14

      it takes a hard lesson to learn who's your real friends. Sometimes in life, stuff like that is necessary.

      • jnguyen1988 on 17/05/2017 - 15:23

        TN are you referring to steve?

  • wazzoj on 17/05/2017 - 10:27
    +1

    Sometimes you just have to get your frustrations out, in the form of a poo on the floor in the boss's office.

    • UFO on 17/05/2017 - 16:11

      You lack discipline. I believe throwing said poo would be far more entertaining. At what direction or target, I'll leave to you.
      Creativity in the workplace and all.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2017 - 13:02

    I was given a formal warning at work for turning down an air conditioner thermostat that blew air into my face every 3 reciprocating seconds without adequate group consultation. In reality, a career complainer who wanted to work from home was documenting his case for an unsafe/unfit workplace. I only touched the thermostat once, genuinely. The complaining guy changed the thermostat without consultation whenever no one was around. It pays to be the complainer. Turns out he had made unfit workplace claims at previous jobs and kept proactive diaries of complaints.

  • Wilson87 on 17/05/2017 - 15:43

    We live in a world today where someone can get fired for updating their facebook status out of work hours, but if someone from work sees it and is offended by it they can complain that you are making the work place hostile with your "thoughts"

    On the other hand, it really depends on what this joke was, the history of your relationship and other things that have happened previously in this group chat. You could do a counter complaint if he has said something offensive in this group chat too?

    All in all, hopefully this teaches you not to (profanity) around with people that are higher than you in a group chat lol

  • UFO on 17/05/2017 - 16:09
    +1

    Oh come on!

    I bought the popcorn, found my seat, and watched the previews…. and now nothing?!?
    I feel jibbed! OP, get back in here and tell us how the story ended!

    Quickly, my popcorn is going cold dag gammit.

  • Moderatorhamza23 on 17/05/2017 - 18:11

    Looks like the OP has received a lot of advice and the situation was resolved some days ago, furthermore there was some inappropriate discussion which has offended some readers and not appropriate for OzBargain.

    Thread is closed.

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