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Can Social Media get you fired?
So you posted something derogatory about your company on Facebook and now you’re wondering if maybe it wasn’t your finest moment? Whilst Social Media can be a great tool for finding a job it can also be the catalyst in making you lose your job too. There have been many tales in the news about employees losing their jobs because of something they posted online and it’s important to remember that whilst social media is great for sharing, not everything is suitable.
Posting company business, posting that you hate your employer, sharing or posting inappropriate content (even if it is not directed at your employer) are just a few of the many examples of things that can get you into trouble or potentially cost you your job.
Nothing is truly private – No social media platform is completely private especially if you have colleagues as your ‘friends’. You may think that posting on Facebook that you hate your job or you’re bored at work might be fine, as only your friends can see it, but a lapse in your privacy settings and a comment from a friend that you work with means it wont take long for word to get around – and you might not have a job to be bored in for long.
Company Policy – Be aware of your employer’s company policy with regards to sharing information on social media. It might seem ok to morn the loss of a client on Linkedin however, your employer might not want the world to know this information. Twitter posts might only appear on someone’s feed for a short period of time but every tweet shows up on Google so it is very easy for someone to search and see what you are posting.
If you blog it’s usually best to steer clear of sharing information about your employer or your colleagues, this too could land you in deep water.
Posting at work – Most employers have rules and policies about using social media at work. Whilst many won’t mind a 2 minute check of your Twitter notifications – updating your status and commenting on posts might not be looked on so favourably. Many employers ban the use of social media platforms at work altogether although in this digital age where many may utilise social media for advertising, research and communication with customers it can be more difficult to police.
Personal views – It’s pertinent to remember that you can get into trouble for posting your own personal views on social media if your employer feels that this could have a negative effect on the company’s reputation. If you are in charge of your company’s social media accounts even the most innocent of mistakes can cause you to lose your job. It’s wise to check, double check and then check again before sharing anything on your company’s behalf and always think how the post will effect the company reputation.
Job hunting – Sharing that you are looking for another job is never going to go down well with your employer. If they see you follow lots of recruitment pages on Linkedin or share your job search on Twitter the chances are your current employer will find out and not look kindly on this behaviour.
Work nights out – Another common complaint with regards over-sharing on social media is after work nights out. Remember that you should have permission when sharing photos of anyone on the internet and whilst your friends might not mind so much you sharing the odd dodgy pic on Instagram your boss might not be so happy.
In summary, it’s generally best to think twice when it comes to posting online. Always have your professional position at the front of your mind and assess how your posts might affect the company you work for. Finally if you decide to take a day off sick to have a cheeky day out – leave your phone in your pocket unless you want your boss to find out about it.
Here are our tips for using social media:
POST SMART – Think twice before you post anything – don’t put your job at risk by posting something controversial. Once you post something it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to take it back.
KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL – Don’t disclose any information – good or bad – about your employer or their business.
BE WISE – Don’t use work time to search for jobs or post your CV online.
BE PREPARED – If you take the risk then be prepared for the consequences.
If you need advice or you think you might have been dismissed unfairly then contact us on 0800 304 7254.
