Nate
I’ve worked some weird jobs in college, but luckily none where my boss decided to patrol my Instagram like it was part of his job description. That’s exactly what happened to one 21-year-old deli worker who posted a few beach pics, nothing scandalous, just her in a bikini, and suddenly found herself getting a text from her much older boss saying her photos “look bad for the business.” No, the business wasn’t tagged. No, she wasn’t even wearing a deli-branded visor.
What started as a pretty harmless social media post spiraled into a bigger conversation about boundaries, power dynamics, and just how creepy it is when your manager starts policing your personal life. The responses? Ranged from “girl, quit” to “technically legal, but still wildly inappropriate.”
Here’s the full post, plus some of the most thoughtful (and blunt) replies people had about it.
1. Employee Gets Unexpected Message From Boss About Her Beach Photos
2. She Shares the Context Behind the Photos and Their Relationship at Work
3. Boss Says Her Instagram “Looks Bad for the Business”
4. She Didn’t Know He Followed Her and Feels Uncomfortable
5. Friends Say It’s Not a Big Deal. She’s Not So Sure…
6. Commenter Says Boss Overstepped and Might Be on Shaky Legal Ground
7. Another Redditor Shares a Disturbing Experience With a Similar Boss
8. A Father Responds: “You’re Not Overreacting”
9. This Comment Offers Advice on Protecting Yourself Legally and Professionally
10. Another User Calls It a Red Flag and Suggests Quitting
11. This Commenter Says It’s Inappropriate, Unprofessional, and Wouldn’t Happen to a Male Coworker
12. Existing in a Bikini Off the Clock Shouldn’t Be a Work Issue
13. A College Job at a Deli Shouldn’t Come With Social Media Policing
14. This Was About Power, Not Policy
15. HR Worker Breaks Down the Legal Side of Social Media and Employment Contracts
16. “It’s Not About the Photos” — Commenter Believes It’s Grooming Behavior
17. If “I Don’t Like That” Is a Standard, It Goes Both Ways
18. Don’t Let Him Shame You Into Taking Your Photos Down
19. Another User Points Out the Creepy Double Standard
20. Sometimes the Simplest Advice Is the Best: “He’s a Creep. Find Another Job.”
21. Part-Time Deli Job Doesn’t Justify This Kind of Control
22. Commenter Says There’s Nothing Wrong With Beach Pics and No Policy Was Broken
23. Suggestion: Lock Down Your Socials or Use an Alias
24. Restaurant Owner Weighs In…Says This Is Not Normal Behavior From a Boss
25. Lawyer Offers a More Cautious Take: Legally Allowed Doesn’t Mean Morally Right
