Should you ‘friend’ the boss?
June 25, 2009 by Valerie HelmbreckPosted in: Communication, IT employment, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Web 2.0, social networking
Social networks like Facebook are seeing traffic increases in the triple digits these days, and that has some companies worried about what employees may be saying about work, the company and co-workers.
It seems there are plenty of managers who think they have a right to see what employees are doing on social networking sites.
How do employees feel? Most think it’s none of the boss’s business.
More than half (53%) of employees say their managers shouldn’t be able to view what they put on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, according to a recent survey by Deloitte. For workers 18-34 years old, that number jumps to 63%.
But most managers disagree — 60% say they deserve to know what their reports do online. The main reason: Monitoring and protecting the company’s reputation. Social networking gives users a chance to make details of their lives public — and work is a heavily discussed topic.
Browse many Facebook profiles or Twitter accounts, and odds are you’ll find something about the person’s job.
Managers might have a real cause for concern: One-third of employees admit they never consider how their employer will be affected when they post material online. Almost 75% admit social networking sites make employers more vulnerable to damaged reputations.
Which also begs the question: Should workers “friend” their boss? Should a boss “friend” a supervised individual?
What do you think — do supervisors have the right to check out employees’ online personalities? Do managers at your company search for folks on the Web? Let us know in the comments section below.
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June 30th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Seems to me if you put your stuff ‘out there’, whoever can find it is entitled to see it.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I agree with jimbob. I was always taught that if I didn’t want something to get back to someone to not say it and if I didn’t have anything nice to say to not say anything at all. Discretion should always be used on any website.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:50 am
RJB: Did we have the same mother? I can recall being told “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” daily when I was growing up. I’m thinking discretion is out of style these days…
June 30th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Employers should not have the right to view employee social networks. However, everyone these days definitely needs a lesson on ethics (something sorely missing today!) and understanding how public their comments are. I do believe that if “loose lips sink ships” staff need to be aware that proof of any derogative or libelous comments or sharing of proprietary information may be cause for termination or at minimum, probation – depending on the company’s common sense, written policies and the level or type of the offense.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I think when employer is digging info what other employee are saying about work online it reminds me a little communist era where people were persecuted for rumors and then interrogated or when neighbors were reporting each other. I would say the Internet should remain as a tool of free speech and expression. Employers can also use the Internet and post their statements and argue against any statements posted by employees.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I think if the managers/supervisors are taking time to browse these kind of sites (too much time on their hands, furthermore, if they are browsing on their leisure time then they really have no life to be looking up people from work) they deserve to hear/read what is on their employee’s mind, without retaliating and taking it to court like every other person in America. MELLOW OUT! It’s only facebook, it’s not that important. Focus people! There is still a war and recession in progress.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I agree with John, let it remain a tool of free speech and expression!!
June 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am
MD, the WWW is not private enough for someone to really expect the privacy, especially on sites like Twitter and Facebook where info is thrown out there/announced without someone even soliciting it and looking for it. But seriously, do people really need to berate their company and boss online? Do you even need to put it in writing? I have my job listed on my Facebook, but everything I put in the description is innocent basic information. It would be stupid to post something negative, especially since I have co-workers as friends and my boss is in the same network as me.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I believe speech on social networking sites should be treated like speech you would hold at a table in a bar or restaurant. It is generally meant for those present but can be overheard by others.
If an employer overhears something, they have a right to get clarity and ask the person what they meant by it and act accordingly. The employee has the right to decline to respond and deal with the break in trust they are fostering. The employer is not free to invite themselves to the table (the social networking site) to just listen, but that doesn’t prevent them from being one table over to pick up bits and pieces.
If what is said is criminal or slanderous, then the employer (or even law enforcement) has a right to investigate further and take other necessary action.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:06 am
My rule with folks I manage is that I don’t friend them, but if they invite me, I accept. Then I add them to my “Work” group, with whom I share only some postings. They’re free to do the same. This keeps my private life and my work life separated. I’ve used a similar rule with the friends of my children: I never invite them to be friends, but if they initiate the social networking connection, I accept with restrictions on what they can read that I’ve written. To my mind, it’s not an either or. The tools most networking sites offer give you enough control to create a compromise.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I’m a manager and I don’t think I need to see things my employees say about me or their job or the company on a social networking site. I really try to conduct myself in a way that is conducive to positive relationships with my direct reports, as well as with peers and those I report to. I respect my employees. I invite them to provide feedback…both positive and critical…at any time and even encourage this because I want to continue to improve my leadership skills. But I also recognize that there are times when everyone needs to blow some steam. I’m not going to get all worked up if someone says something that hurts a bit. Now if they’re sharing confidential and proprietary information, that’s a different (legal)issue. But I try to learn from any less-than-glowing comments others make, really investigate to see if there is truth to what they say and make changes, if so.
I’m with Valerie regarding “friending” an employee. I don’t invite subordinates (or peers) to be friends, but if they invite me, I accept with restrictions on what they can read. Social networks when used by an individual for social reasons are social in nature. So unless the account has been set up for a business purpose, it means what goes on there is NOT business. If the account is set up for a business purpose or by a business, it should be used accordingly and content should be monitored and restricted and appropriate to business. At least, that’s my opinion, for whatever little it’s worth!
July 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I was also taught to keep my lips closed if I didn’t have anything nice to say.
Another popular phrase that I apply in this situation is to leave work at work and home at home. My social networking pages are limited to social friends, not my boss, and personal discussions. Any work-related issues are addressed with those people AT WORK who have the ability to help improve the situation. Venting on a social networking site is passive-aggressive. It doesn’t accomplish anything, except to damage my own reputation and the reputation of my company. Of course – I still vent to my spouse and others, but that’s in private. Never in writing where it can come back to bite me.
As an HR professional, I’ll also discuss the employer’s side of the story. Most of the managers and other HR pros that I work with don’t waste a lot of time searching for their employees’ Facebook pages. It’s usually someone else (a co-worker that was befriended) that brings the nasty comments to our attention. And, we typically only get to see the nasty ones. The positive comments are rarely shared. Some of us, like RB, respond better than others. The ones who respond poorly usually do so because it’s a complete shock. How would you react if what was written was the complete opposite of what was said to your face?
July 20th, 2009 at 8:03 am
I guess I’m old enough now and have been around long enough that I have learned not to get worked up about comments, negative or positive. I’ve learned to glean any kernel of truth I can from whatever is said, try to learn from every situation and move on. It did take some time to learn to respond in this manner. When I was 20, a manager told me I was too moody at work. It wasn’t said nicely and it really hurt, especially since I was going through a divorce and was really hurting. I spent a few days being “moody” about her comment, then realized I could either take what she said and learn / grow from it or I could get mad, grumpy, frustrated and continue down the road I was going without benefiting from her candor. That was a real turning point for me. Since that time, I have solicited honest feedback and have especially valued relationships with those who would be honest with me about how they saw me and how they felt I “operated.” That became even more critical when I moved into management. I believe that feedback has helped me immensely in my career. It hasn’t always been “fun” to hear, but what I have learned from that honest feedback has been so incredibly valuable, I’m truly grateful for each painful word…even more so than for the kind words of praise I’ve received. That’s why I have the attitude I have about Facebook, etc. Every experience we have can either be a learning experience, and thus a stepping stone, or it can become a roadblock. But it’s all in how we react to the experience, much more so than in what we experience. I have learned to react in such a way that I can benefit from what is said, regardless of the format, and turn it into a growth experience. Sometimes it harder than at other times, but it’s always worth the effort to turn it into a learning experience. I hope this can help others because it has made a huge difference in my life.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
R.B. — What a productive, enterprising life view. Had a similar experience about 20 years ago with a very blunt boss who put me in my place in front of some co-workers. After sulking for a few hours, I had the same realization you did: Learn what’s possible from the negative feedback and move on. Prove by hard work and resilience what you’re worth. What I discovered was that experiences are neutral, we impose the positive and negative spin. Even the most painful situations offer insight and opportunity. This realization improved my life immensely. Thanks for your post. I hope others will take it to heart.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
It’s amazing to me that people think they are anonymous because they are hidden by a computer screen sitting in their homes (or at their desks) and thus they begin vomiting out all kinds of personal information. And…they expect to be able to keep it confidential and private. Hello world!!! The World Wide Web is just that…it’s WORLD Wide…the whole WORLD can read it.