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OK, you all know how much I love Facebook and other social networking Web sites.
Sometimes though, it’s easy to love them too much.
A report released recently by CareerBuilder.com affirmed this. The report detailed how companies handle social networking sites within their offices.
They reported that many companies are banning social media sites in the office. The main point — they’re a time waster.
Really? I much prefer tending to my farm on Facebook than writing these columns.
Be sure to note my sarcasm in saying that.
Proofpoint Inc. polled companies in 2009 about their policies.
Seventeen percent said they have investigated the posting of confidential, sensitive or private information to a social network, such as Facebook or LinkedIn.
Of that, 10 percent have taken disciplinary actions against an employee who violated social networking policies in the past 12 months.
Eight percent terminated someone.
Banning them on the computer is fine and dandy, but unless you’re taking away the Blackberrys and iPhones, they can still get on them.
Most people would just have the common sense not to post incriminating stuff though, right? Not always.
I’ve seen too many stories of bosses catching their employees in lies by online activity.
For instance, one man called in sick to work, but posted on his Facebook status that he was hung over, with many curse words rolled in about how much he hated his job. I bet he didn’t last long.
By now you’ve probably heard about the woman who lost her job for complaining about her boss on Facebook.
Her status said something to the effect that she hated her job and boss. She used several four-letter words within the statement.
The post was commented on within hours ... by the girl’s boss.
His first comment is “I guess you forgot about adding me on here?”
Oops.
He went on to explain to her that the “stuff” she complained about was her job.
“you know, what I pay you to do,” he wrote.
He finished with one parting note.
“And lastly, you also seem to have forgotten that you have two weeks left on your six-month trial period. Don’t bother coming in tomorrow.
“I’ll pop your P45 in the post and you can come in whenever you like to pick up any stuff you’ve left here. And yes, I’m serious.”
Ouch.
