As independent investigators, we are increasingly called into businesses to investigate employees posting confidential company information online, potentially compromising competitive advantage, tweeting inappropriate company news, Instagramming their latest protein shake to “get them through the working day”, tweeting they have a new job while still employed elsewhere, Facebooking a “meh, bored at work” status with a company check in…the list goes on. Such posts can get employees into serious trouble and in some instances, can even cost them their job.
Like it or loathe it, most people will use social media during the course of their working day. How employers react to it is another matter entirely. We regularly advise companies on the need to have a clearly defined Social Media Usage policy within their employee handbooks, reminding employees of the importance of keeping their personal and work “social media” lives separate.
Employers’ attitudes to logging on to social media during company time varies widely, with some organisations encouraging positive posts on social media to attract more traffic to their brand, while others operate a clear blanket ban policy. Whatever you want to encourage, it is important to have clear guidance on how you want your brand to be portrayed in the public domain. The policy should also explain the consequences should those rules be breached. Highlighting and reminding staff of the sensitivity and confidentiality of company and customer information is also important.
Employees need to be advised to think before they post. Once it is out there, it is hard to retract. The comment “if you wouldn’t post it with your boss looking over your shoulder, then you probably shouldn’t post it at all” still holds true. Staff need to recognise that if there is any doubt, with the possibility of it costing them their job, best advice is, don’t.
For an employee handbook review and refresh, please contact:
info@emphasis.uk.com or call 01794 874232
