As social media policies are developed, one factor that needs to be considered is relationships. Since social media is ideally about creating and cultivating relationships with other people, a social media policy needs to consider those relationships and respect them while also making it clear to employees that they also have a relationship with the company.
In fact, a social media policy should, right from the beginning, make it clear that there is a relationship between the company and the employee. That kind of understanding can help policy makers frame their policy in terms of showing employees how that relationship is impacted by their actions on social media. At the same time, policy makers do want to consider that employees are using social media to be social, to answer questions, share ideas, and otherwise cultivate relationships with other people for a variety of reasons.
In developing a policy that employees will need to follow, a special section should be devoted to the company’s stance on respecting the personal lives of the employees as well as the relationships employees cultivate and maintain on social media. Employees need to know that their privacy will be respected and that their choices for who they contact won’t be held against them, as long as it doesn’t endanger the company. That last point is essential for employees to understand, so that likewise they respect the relationship they have with the business. Sharing proprietary information would endanger the company, or speaking badly of a fellow employee or client on a social media forum would also endanger the company. Employees need to consider the relationship they have with the company they work for, so that when they communicate online, they do so and still protect company secrets and represent the company respectfully.
While an employee might only work eight hours a day, s/he still nonetheless represents the company 24/7 by virtue of being employed there. This doesn’t mean the company owns the employee, but it does mean that the employee needs to recognize that s/he always has a relationship with the company and that relationship will effect other relationships, insomuch as what the employee says about work to the people s/he interacts with. By addressing social media relationships in a policy, companies can help employees understand the importance of respecting the relationship they have with their company, while also cultivating new relationships with people they meet online.
Hi Amber,
I think spelling out expectations can avoid a lot of problems down the line, and help employees and the company work together to make their time on social media helpful to everyone. I also think it's worth it for the employee to consider that s/he has formed an agreement with the company that extends past the 9-5 of M-F.
Employees who understand that they don't fully stop being employees when they go out the door can accordingly consider what kind of message they are putting out in the public arena as it concerns their company.
Something I have noticed is the case of an employee who is a social media enthusiast as it applies to his/her business, but doesn't have the acceptance of the company. It can create a lot of problems and also lead to an ask forgiveness instead of permission scenario, which then can create a lot of distrust. Add in other employees who also get on social media and you can get into a really dicey situation. Companies that anticipate that kind of possibility can really help their employees by addressing and also indicating what support the employees can expect from the company.
Thanks for commenting and sharing this post.
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