Finally! It is 5:00pm and you’ve just logged off your computer for the night. Leaving the office, you tweet your excitement for a take-out meal from your diner-of-choice, Netflix, and your fuzzy slippers.
The next day at work you attend a workshop that plans to discuss guidelines on social media use for employees. But how much SAY should an employer have on its employee’s personal social media accounts, if any?
I tweeted the question to my Twitter followers, and this is what they had to say:
@JenniferBakerCo No. Conduct guidelines and common sense go a long way. If you wouldn’t say it in real life/to someone’s face, don’t tweet
— Cory Quaresma (@CoryVIVA) February 24, 2015
@JenniferBakerCo To be honest, I would complain less about work if my boss was watching me there. I think it’s good to have a venting space.
— Stephen Lee (@StephenAndLee) February 24, 2015
@JenniferBakerCo No, as long as you don’t misrepresent/say something harmful to business. Employees should be encouraged 2 promote good work — Dr. Ryan Llera (@DrRyanLleraDVM) February 24, 2015
@JenniferBakerCo unless you are posting about your employer, or suggesting that you represent them, absolutely not. — Eddie Roosenmaallen (@silvermoon82) February 24, 2015
@JenniferBakerCo no, but more and more companies are developing policies on this. Best for employees to stay away from discussing work
— William Miranda (@Bill_Miranda) February 24, 2015
@JenniferBakerCo no- as long as you don’t have your company name sited in your handle, I think the freedom to express yourself is your own.
— Karla Brennen (@karlabrennen) February 24, 2015
Thanks to all those who contributed their opinion. Of those who contributed, the majority believed that an employer should not have a say in how you conduct yourself on social media unless you are misrepresenting your employer. Makes sense to me!