#9to5Nightmares Podcast Episode 14: Online Misconduct

We talk about misconduct so you can avoid it!

Hiring in 2025 comes with a new reality: every post, livestream, or DM can surface at work the very next day. In Episode 14 of the #9to5Nightmares podcast, Amy Warren and Micole Garatti dig into three headline-grabbing cases that prove online misconduct doesn’t just hurt an individual’s reputation, it can torpedo an employer’s brand, bottom line, and legal standing.

The Internet Is Forever (and So Are the Receipts)

Digital natives grew up oversharing online, and now they make up most of the workforce. When employees carry that same unfiltered behavior into their jobs – or publicly online in ways that impact their employers – the fallout can be instant and expensive.

Forward-thinking organizations are treating online behavior as a quality-of-hire metric. Social media background checks let you spot red flags—harassment, hate speech, fraud—before they land on tomorrow’s front page.

On #9to5Nightmares Podcast Episode 14: Online Misconduct, we discuss 3 examples of workplace misconduct that could have been prevented with social media background checks. 

3 Examples of Online Misconduct 

1. When Social Media Crosses the Line: A Wake-Up Call for Nursing Professionalism

A new nurse was fired from her job after live streaming herself during her shift at a nursing home. In the stream, viewers watched her administer medications, talk to and about patients, and make a medication error—while she read and responded to live comments on social media. The video went viral, showing the world the nurse’s unprofessional conduct, potential HIPAA violations, and improper clinical technique throughout the day. (1Nurse) 

2. Police officer resigns in disgrace after harassing coworkers both in office and online

A male police officer repeatedly harassed female colleagues, making "highly offensive" and "vulgar" comments in person as well as initiating unwanted contact through social media. After complaints by the coworkers, the Police Constable said in a statement, [the officer’s] "actions were highly unprofessional and undoubtedly made his female colleagues feel deeply uncomfortable and such behaviour will not be tolerated." The officer resigned during the course of the investigation, which would have resulted in his termination. (BBC)

3. Fama story – Candidate indicted for bribery! 

Fama screened an executive candidate who was indicted in not one but two countries for bribing government officials in hopes of receiving a large multimillion dollar contract. The candidate was acquitted in one country for a lack of evidence but pleaded guilty in the other for corruption and bribery. The employer ended up with a near billion-dollar fine. 

There’s no question about it – the workforce is changing and employers must adapt to protect themselves from new blind spots and people risks. That means taking proactive measures like adopting social media background checks to prevent online misconduct that can impact not just an employee but the employer, their customers, and more.