SafeCare BC Logo
SafeCare BC Logo
Programs & Services

Programs and Services

View All
We are dedicated to providing comprehensive occupational health and safety (OHS) consulting services tailored to your needs.
View Service
Psychological health and safety, often called workplace mental health, encompasses principles and practices to foster a supportive, respectful, and psychologically safe work environment.
View Service
The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum is recognized as best-practice in violence prevention training for health care workers.
View Service
Guidelines & Regulations

Guidelines and Regulations

View All
WorkSafeBC is holding a second public hearing this month on proposed changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation related to combustible dusts.
View News Story
Amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR), Part 5: Chemical Agents and Biological Agents – Emergency Planning came into effect on February 3, 2025. Changes include additional requirements to minimize the risk, likelihood, and harm caused by an emergency involving hazardous substances.   Hazardous substances include biological, chemical or physical hazards that may reasonably […]
View News Story

SCENARIO

Social Media Gossip at Work

On Monday morning, Zoya is scrolling through social media on her break when she comes across Kiara’s post from the weekend. In the photos, Kiara is clearly enjoying herself, dancing and having a good time while out with friends. Zoya raises an eyebrow and smirks, deciding to take a screenshot.

Later, Zoya meets up with her co-worker, Jal, in the break room. Unable to resist, she shows her the photos. “Look at Kiara. She really made a fool of herself this weekend. I can’t believe she’d post this for everyone to see.”

Jal glances at the photos and laughs, “Wow, she looks like she’s had a few too many!” The two exchange a few more jokes, and before long, Zoya has shown the post to a couple of other aides, who pass it along to others. By the end of the day, most of the staff on the unit have seen the photos, with various comments and jokes being made about Kiara’s weekend.

As the shift comes to an end, Kiara notices strange looks and muffled laughter coming from her co-workers. She approaches a co-worker and asks what’s going on. “I don’t know how to say this, but Zoya showed us photos of you from the weekend. People are kind of talking about it” says her co-worker. Kiara’s face flushes as she realizes she’s become the topic of workplace gossip. She feels embarrassed, hurt and betrayed. What she thought was a harmless weekend post has been turned against her.

Question 1

What should Kiara do in this situation?

Further reflection: What could Kiara have done differently?

· Adjust privacy settings: Kiara could have restricted the visibility of her post to only close friends or trusted contacts. By keeping her posts private she would have more control over who sees her content, reducing the likelihood of it being shared or discussed by co-workers.

· Avoid adding co-workers on social media: Maintaining a boundary between work and personal life helps avoid situations where colleagues might judge or gossip about personal activities. Kiara could have kept her personal and professional lives separate by not connecting with her coworkers on social media.

· Be selective with content shared online: Being intentional about what is shared online could help Kiara manage her online presence and avoid misunderstandings or negative perceptions in her work

life. Kiara could consider how certain personal content, like photos from a party, may be better kept offline or only shared privately. Many social media platforms also offer features that disappear after 24 hours or allow users to share with a private group. Temporary or restricted features make it less likely for content to be shared or saved by others, giving Kiara more control over who sees her posts.

Explore Scenarios
Discover more workplace situations and different ways to respond.
View More Scenarios
Have a real-life situation to share?
Have a workplace situation that could become a civility scenario? Share it anonymously. Your experience may inspire future content on the SafeCare BC website.
Share Your Scenario
SafeCare BC Logo
©2026 SafeCare BC | All rights reserved.
To empower workplaces that provide care to create a culture of safety through evidence-based education, advocacy for safer workplaces, leadership, and collaboration
cross