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The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media in the Workplace
The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media in the Workplace

The Dos and Don’ts of Social Media in the Workplace

Social media is everywhere, and its significance can’t be denied. As such, it should not come as much of a surprise that social media has found its way into the workplace. Some employees work directly with social media as part of their job description, while many others have a less direct connection – but nevertheless interact with social media in the course of their work. Social media has a way of getting people into difficult social situations, and social media – as it relates to the workplace – can be especially tricky, which makes a better understanding of the dos and don’ts of social media at work paramount. 

The Statistics

According to Forbes – as of 2020 – almost 3.7 billion people actively participate in some form of social media, and Facebook (now Meta) alone has 2.5 billion users. There is no escaping social media, and learning how to navigate its intersection with work is important. 

Do Know the Office Rules

Employees who aren’t sure about their employer’s social media rules and guidelines should ask. Employees often represent the companies they work for when they’re on social media, and having a strong understanding of how the company wants to present itself is key. Further, employees should know whether or not personal social media interaction is allowed on company time and should respect company policies. 

Do Know that Privacy Is an Illusion

Far too many employees run into trouble with their social media activity because they mistakenly believe they can keep their work accounts and personal accounts completely separate and that their personal accounts are private. When it comes to social media, there is no such thing as true privacy – regardless of how careful one is with privacy settings. A simple screenshot later, and that private post can become public information. Letting go of the illusion of privacy is the best social media navigational tool.

Do Respect Boundaries

Some coworkers like to connect on social media, and some feel uncomfortable doing so. Some bosses and their employees follow one another on social media and some do not. The bottom line is that following the lead of others in one’s workplace, respecting the boundaries of others, and minding one’s social media p’s and q’s is the best policy.

Don’t Do This

There is a wide range of social media gaffes that all employees should carefully avoid:

  • Don’t resort to all caps or other attention grabbers
  • Don’t post the same tired content on every platform (it can begin to feel like spam)
  • Don’t overuse hashtags
  • Don’t post personal entries on company time 
  • Don’t be combative, divisive, or otherwise rude
  • Don’t forget to think before hitting post
  • Don’t make inflammatory comments or engage in inflammatory conversation
  • Don’t attempt to embarrass or shame the boss or company
  • Don’t vent about work

Social media can get employees into hot water – or worse – but knowing the dos and don’ts can help. 

California Discrimination Attorneys Help Protect Employee Rights

Social media can lead to trouble at work, but employees have important rights that are well worth protecting. The California discrimination attorneys at Minnis & Smallets are well-prepared to help and can be contacted for more information here.

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