Blogging at work
So, do you blog? (I do) … It’s now become common for people to have a website where they post their ideas and spout their opinions. But there can be serious repercussions when you start to mouth off about your employer on the web. Some employees have lost their jobs over their comments about their workplace, or because of other racy content on their personal blog.
Blogging, and the latest craze, Facebook.com, are all the rage now. And more and more people are turning to the Internet as an avenue to vent their frustrations with their job and their workplace. But that can lead to trouble. Workers need to think twice before they start complaining about their job online where it can be read by anyone — including your boss. Even comments on other blogs can be found and read.
The first tip? Keep your comments to yourself, and don’t spout off in a public forum. And if you insist on blowing off some steam about your workplace on the ‘Net, then it’s best you learn how to keep yourself anonymous online. That could mean using a pseudonym and making sure no personal details are connected to the site. (very hard to do, and I don’t recommend this)
What about writing on your blog or lingering on Facebook during work hours? That can get you into even more trouble than spouting off about your boss or workplace. The best advice is to keep to your work if you’re on the job. A survey in the U.S. found that more people were fired for goofing off on the ‘Net during work hours than for criticizing work on their blog. Almost every party or social event I go to these days, someone has a story or anecdote about someone getting fired at their office because too much time was spent on facebook.
For example, reports say earlier this year a worker at a brokerage in the U.K. was warned by his employer after he was clocked at spending about four hours a day on Facebook. But instead of heeding the warning, the employee posted the note on his Facebook site.
If you are writing personal stuff online either on a blog or on a Facebook profile, you really just need to use common sense. Racy or revealing pictures, lots of swearing, negative comments about your workplace are best avoided it you want to play on the ‘Net and not have it affect your job.
