5 Pioneer Manor staff fired after 'inappropriate' Snapchats

Five front-line staff at Pioneer Manor have been fired for sharing 'inappropriate' Snapchat images of long-term care residents.

CatherineMatheson, general manager of communitydevelopment for the city, said acomplaint from a Pioneer Manor staff member prompted the investigation.

"Inappropriatepictures were taken of residents...vulnerable seniors, most of them," Matheson said.

Matheson said that in some of the photos, patients were aware their picture was being taken. But even with a resident's permission, the accused staff were breaking policy.

"Staff are not to have cell phones in use during the time they are working with the residents in our facility," she said.

"To take a picture of an individualthen forwarditis breaching that person's privacy and rights. That itself is grounds enough for us to be very concerned."

Police have been notified

Snapchatis a mobile app, which takes pictures thatdelete themselvesafter a few seconds.

Mathesonsaid the nature of the photos "will not be shared," but the city has contacted police, who will conduct their own investigation.

Pioneer Manor is also in the process of bringing in a third party to review their privacy policies. This should help alleviate any confusion about what's expected of staff, Matheson said.

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