Many employees disciplined for Facebook posts; companies still lack policy
January 26, 2010 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Discipline, HR Tech, In this week's e-newsletter - Tech, Latest News & Views, policies
It seems more employees are behaving inappropriately on social networking sites, while companies are still trying to find the best way to deal with that behavior.
Almost 25% of employees have disciplined workers for activities on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, according to a recent survey by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Despite that, only half of companies said they have a social networking policy or monitor employees’ behavior.
The dangers of social networking misuse include:
- damage to the company’s reputation
- leak of confidential information, and
- harassment (if an employee talks disparagingly about a co-worker, for example).
What does a good policy look like? It should cover two basic elements:
- Make it clear that employees have no right to privacy when they post on a public social-networking site, no matter where they connect from. If it’s on the site and can be read, it can be used as grounds for discipline.
- Remind employees that company policies (like anti-harassment) extend to online behavior.
Does your company have a social networking policy? What does it cover? Let use know in the comments section below.
Tags: Facebook, LinkedIn, social networking, Twitter
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January 25th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by courtney spencer, HRMorning, Sandra Young, jessica green, NOVA SHRM and others. NOVA SHRM said: Many employees disciplined for Facebook posts; companies still lack policy http://bit.ly/4OLPrt [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
We do not have a policy in place currently, but I intend to add one immediately. I though it very unprofessional when I read one of my employee’s complaining about our work place and her client base on a social networking site. Especially, since I am one of her “friends” on line. Didn’t she think I’d see it? Worst, she was shocked and appalled that we asked her to remove the negative comments from her “wall”. If she wasn’t also a relative I’d can her for being so stupid.
April 30th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hi LR,
It sounds like you could also use a nepotism policy