Poll: What’s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

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  1

  schmiez

  11/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Does anyone have examples where Facebook has helped your business?

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  mmccoy

  11/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Yes - our salespeople use facebook as a networking tool. They communicate with prospects individually or as a group, and even organize more informal events like dinners and bbqs where our sales guys get current and prospective clients to mingle.
  
  Of course, it's not about the technology, it's about the relationships. Our salespeople would do this whether or not facebook even existed, facebook just makes it easier to develop relationships with clients who also use it.

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  9Janet

  11/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Being the CEO of a global company, the job with all its perks has its price. One aspect of that price is that you are at all times judged as a representative of your company. Your private life must stay private and off line. Protecting your reputation precludes momentary public fun. I have not hired two prospective Vice Presidential candidates because of what I read on their Face Book Pages. Janet Wood, CEO Fashion Fit Formula, a Pivotal Edge, Inc. company

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  prattm

  11/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Personally, although I appreciate a relatively relaxed atmosphere, I feel that we know TOO much about each other. There's your work life, and there's your private social life. There can be too much information. I don't think its a good idea to date a co-worker (yes, I have done it, and regret it); I really don't want to see a boss or a co-worker's photographs or private life interests. Decorum, professionalism, etc. in behavior and dress.

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  reedj

  11/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Some rules of thumb here. First, keep your Facebook page accessible to only people you have friended. It boggles me that people do not maintain the non-public setting, especially when reading posts like the one above. Secondly, if you are going to friend co-workers, managers, etc., then maintain this rule: if you wouldn't want it seen on the front page of the NY Times, don't post it. A third and final recommendation...use one online application (e.g., Facebook) for your personal relationships, and use another (e.g., LinkedIn) for your business relationships. Just my two cents....

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  DarrenBJones

  11/05/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  The prevalence of new technologies in our lives has blurred the lines between on and off work, on the one hand we give our employees blackberry's and expect them to be on call 24/7, but then we get upset when personal lives intrude in work.
  Social media is an interesting part of our lives, we use it to connect with our friends and colleagues, our business' have pages on Facebook and Myspace, we Twitter events and there is naturally going to be a point when both worlds clash.
  Before the advent of Facebook et al, there were things it was appropriate to talk about with employees and things that were not, as a leader these rules have not changed. Do not make your employees your friends if you cannot draw the line, or have separate pages for work and home.
  For employees, you run the usual risks, don't blog about work, it is just the same as talking in the street or writing a letter containing sensitive materials, you are accountable for your actions.
  We seem to think that we shouldn't be accountable for our actions if we are not at work, as the CEO story from a few days ago showed, people are always watching and if you make your employees friends you have to accept that what you write off the clock will effect your relationships on the clock. Employers may elect to look at your page if it is an option, if you fill it with references to unprofessional activities then it will affect your job prospects.
  Technologies are becoming more and more intrusive and we love them when they work for us but cry foul when they do not. We need to grow up and accept that the world is changing and we need to adapt, don't post naked photos for your employees to see, don't make references to drug or alcohol abuse, don't insult your friends and not expect it to matter when you are at work.
  As a friend of mine told me, it's not official until it's on Facebook. You make a bad choice, its official and you have to live with the consequences.
  

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  KriNic

  11/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Maybe I don't get this issue because I am not a Facebook, or any other social media, user, but can't a person have a professional page where they network with clients, promote their business etc. and then a personal page where they can post vacation pictures of their drunken rage?

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  LdrshpMgmtGuru

  11/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  My rule: I do NOT friend current co-workers. Because everyone in my field is connected by fewer than 6 degrees of separation, former co-workers who are friends of mine on Facebook are prevented from viewing my status updates. And finally, I do NOT post inappropriate/questionable pictures of myself ANYWHERE!
  
  I used to use Twitter as an outlet for my sense of humor (also nothing inappropriate or work-related); however, I have since made my account private simply b/c I don't like not knowing who can view my posts.
  
  Bottom line: Keep business and personal separate online because nothing good comes from mixing the two...

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  mzdutton

  11/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Great poll, interesting results, and responses... Some of the best advice I have heard regarding all Social Networking is to treat it exactly as we would a cocktail party. If we are professionals in our community, and we are exposed to community members, then don't do or say anything we would regret or that we would not feel comfortable with everyone knowing about...

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  cboudreaux

  11/11/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  If you're researching social media policies or trying to set your own, this database contains links to more than 100 social media policies. You can filter by industry, and it's fully searchable:
  
  http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php

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  Mrs. E

  11/18/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Don't friend people you aren't actually friends with. If you wouldn't ask them over to your home, or to watch your kids, or house-sit for you- they aren't friends. Also, never post anything you wouldn't want anyone to see and make sure only friends can see your pictures by tagging to limit access.
  I have Linked-in for work people.

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  harley587

  11/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Poll: What?s the Etiquette for Social Media and the Workplace?

  Learn how to use the security settings to the max. If you don't want to find embarrassing photos of you tagged by someone else, there is a setting for that. The settings need to be set for your intended preference and use. It's all very personal.