The South Wales Evening Post have reported on findings. made by Parliament Street, into social media misuse at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency:A CIVIL servant at the DVLA in Swansea was sacked for using Facebook on his mobile phone during office time.
He was fired after being caught with his personal phone logged on to the social networking site at work in the giant Government offices handling records of Britain’s 32 million vehicles.
The 5,000 staff at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are banned from using social media at work.
It follows complaints after workers made inappropriate comments about agency colleagues and customers.
Three members of staff have already been dismissed for using their work computers to access Facebook.
But this is the first time a worker at the giant office block in Swansea has been fired for accessing the site on his own mobile phone.
A DVLA spokesman said: “Staff cannot access any social networking sites on our computers.
“Staff using social media at work on their personal phones are always investigated and it could result in disciplinary action.
“All staff are aware of the current guidance in place and are reminded of the rules on a regular basis.”
A second DVLA worker was given a written warning for making an “inappropriate” comment about the DVLA on Twitter.
Seven staff at the agency were suspended for making comments and jokes on Facebook earlier this year.
But Steven George-Hilley, director of technology at the think-tank, Parliament Street, which obtained the information from the DVLA said: “Sacking staff for using Facebook demonstrates a draconian approach to social media.
“Employers should be embracing digital channels and encouraging staff to use social networking sites to deliver faster, more interactive services to customers.”
The original article can be read here.
