25yr old employee takes screen shots of people’s online conversations and blasts them out. I am old school Ad world - you always protect the privacy of others. They see nothing wrong. Thoughts?

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I wouldn’t either. This in no way excuses the behavior which sounds really vengeful. They have grown up being told that digital is permanent and everything you put in writing is as if it will be broadcast out to the whole world. No such thing as privacy. Now the fact that they are the agent of that exposure is deeply disturbing. Wouldn’t want someone like that on the team. No trust.

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Certainly cut him loose teach them a valuable life lesson. They are young and will have the opportunity to recover.

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Need more context — is employee sharing company conversations and sharing with who? Or friends?

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what, that's awful. I'm so sorry

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It’s not what I would do but take it as now you know how to or not engage with this employee. As it is, rule of thumb should be like media don’t say it if you don’t want to see it later. Especially on a company platform like Skype or slack or whatever... these kids ain’t loyal ...

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Major invasion of privacy unless the 25 yo was part of the conversation. If not part of the convo, report to HR immediately. Legally there is a reasonable expectation to privacy even online. It’s why police and others need search warrants for digital interactions. If it truly bothers you, sue them.

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I’m not sure why people think screen grabs somehow rise to felony wiretapping. They don’t. Generally it is a copyright issue and 25 probably has a fair use defense even if someone who owns the copyright wanted to sue. If 25 year old hacked into a private chat, then sure there are issues. But say it was an internal chat (public to the company) but no non-company people, then the only issue would be company IT policy on screen grabs from internal chats and odds are there isn’t one. Most companies are using archiving products anyway to comply with various laws. (Odds are the offending chat is in a backup). If person X was in the chat and 25 walks up behind and screen grabs, not an issue either. Lesson learned ... at work or on a work computer, work people can access and see what you are up to (apparently including 25 year olds trying to climb the corporate ladder at your expense.)

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Likely that hr can explain that this isn't generally acceptable business behavior, that employment is contingent on maintaining professional business behavior, and that 25 is an at-will hire.

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If the former then major breach of company confidentiality and if the latter — it bothers me but understand it’s pretty common among gen z/millennial.

They feel that if it is public in any way they have the right to do what they want. My point is more a moral one and that in this business protecting the team is important. HR is involved but as a manger I see this thought with the younger team often. I would never take a screen shot of a conversation I was not part of.

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So you have a group talking publicly in a way that 25 yr old thinks should be flagged to higher ups. Appears both have issues. I’d be more concerned about the group, without them the 25 had nothing to report.

It wasn’t the conversation. Internally it was a conversation that has taken place in public.

That sounds more like an HR situation. My question back at u would be: is the managing director position still relevant in today’s advertising industry? Theres a tendency of managing directors falling into micro managing creatives and that is probably number 1 killer of creativity.

I am not working at an ad agency.

I think also it matters what was being discussed. If I saw something that was misogynist or anti-gay or sexist in a way that concerned me that s senior person would not treat me fairly and even if it was on Facebook let’s say and I saw because I was friended with that person, I’d say it was fair to screen shot and show to others if I thought this person’s opinions might affect the workplace. I think unless I know what the content was about, it’s hard to judge. And honestly, I do not think anything over electronic media should carry an expectation of privacy. If you put it out there anyone and everyone could and probably let will see it. Want privacy? Keep it to yourself.

Thank you all for your comments. Conversation had to do with business only and losing an account . What would you all say if after 8 yrs of hard work they once again show no loyalty and toss you aside without regard? That was the conversation and had nothing to do with this up and comer. It was heated but in no way offensive. But a screen shot sent to that client would horrible. And now this child has this power.
What I have learned from all this is that the work place of advertising that we once knew is gone. Knowing your place and a need to know privacy with many of us working in spaces with no privacy and communication on public platforms is now dangerous. Trust no one. I loved this industry cause we were an ensemble working towards one creative end. It is rare to find that now.

Agreed. But as Manager and dealing with creatives we do need to allow for space for them to speak and feel heard and protected. There is negative petty but also constructive criticism. We can’t grow without listening to what is and isn’t not working. I tell my team now to talk behind closed doors. No longer can we speak openly.

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