DWP staff sacked for using social media

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Central Government and also in Communities

Over 100 staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have been disciplined for using social media sites, 11 of which were sacked, figures show.

The staff at Iain Duncan Smith's department have been reprimanded for using sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Since January 2009, 34 employees have been given final written warnings, 35 written warnings and 36 verbal warnings, the Guardian reported.

The figures were revealed after a Freedom of Information request.

A DWP source stressed that the 11 staff members were sacked over a three year period out of a workforce of 60-70,000.

A DWP spokesperson said: "The DWP has clear guidelines for staff on the use of the internet and social media. The vast majority of staff abide by these rules. For the small minority who don't, we have strict disciplinary measures in place, ranging from a warning to dismissal."