A Reddit post has sparked debate after a recently laid-off employee shared that the HR professional who likely selected them for termination has now tried to connect with them on Facebook. The employee, who had just returned from maternity leave before being laid off, described the situation as “causing existential dread” and leaving them unsure how to respond.
The user said, “I don’t know what to do. I honestly dislike this person despite knowing they didn’t decide the lay-off overall.”
The user explained that while the company as a whole made the decision to reduce staff, the HR manager was the one who marked their name for the layoff round.
“They are probably trying to be friendly again because I am still friends with ex-coworkers and we are a small company and live in a small city. But they presented to me as corporate bootlicker and if I saw them somewhere out and about I would try to avoid them,” the user wrote.
Community Reactions: “Facebook is for friends and family”
Reddit users were quick to weigh in with advice. One commenter suggested bluntly, “Ghost them. They probably just want to spy on you in case you say anything negative about the company.”
Another argued that the boundary was clear-cut: “Facebook is for friends and family, LinkedIn is for business. Do not confuse the two.”
A third user noted the move was not unusual in corporate culture: “It may sound dark but this is pretty common practice in corporate to avoid the employee from potentially acting in a violent manner. They want the HR to keep tabs on your social media.”
Concerns Over Non-Disparagement Clauses
Some commenters also pointed out the potential legal and professional implications. “Your severance agreement, if you have one, likely has a non-disparagement clause, and the HR person might be trying to keep tabs on you to make sure you are not bad-mouthing the company,” another Redditor explained.
They went on to advise caution: “Block her from Facebook and LinkedIn if you want. In addition, as part of your job-hunting strategy, be sure to review your online footprint and social media settings. Clean out any ‘inappropriate’ content. That usually includes criticism of previous employers or industry and management generally, expressing or endorsing extreme politics, and attacks on specific people or groups. Employers can and do check.”