Strive Notes

Yes another blogger could be out of a job. The Mail on Sunday is reporting that a 33-year old woman working in the Department for Work and Pensions, has been suspended pending further investigation.  Know only as Civil Serf, she poked fun at ministers and colleagues and described her work life as ‘pointless and doomed’ on her blog.
Apparently she was caught after the government dedicated a team of computer experts to track her down across the internet.

This is an issue that I’m getting asked about a lot these days.  How can organisation mitigate the risk of employee bloggers?

I counsel that every employer should have a social media policy in place in addition to or as an amplification of an employee code of conduct.  I also advise holding regular team briefings to discuss and explain the policy.  In these briefing you should:

• warn about revealing company secrets and obeying copyright, corporate finance regulations, hate laws etc.
• encourage team members participating online to identify themselves and to make it clear that opinions expressed are their own and not those of the company.
• Counsel people to always be respectful and to use their best manners.

• And finally, make sure everyone is fully aware of the consequences of contravening policy. Especially if bloggers could be putting their jobs at risk.

I’ll be at the International Business School on 17 March 12 noon to deliver a lunch hour seminar on this and other implications of social media and Web 2.0 for organisations.  There might be a seat or two left, if you are interested in dropping in.  Click here to find out more.

Other Strive Notes on this topic:

• CNN sacks blogger
• Online communities matter 
• Influence of social media 

Filed under: public relations