Even the person who has their dream job and enjoys going to work every morning has a day when things at work can get a little frustrating. It can be all too tempting to talk about work on social media. It may seem silly to think that 140 characters in a social media post could potentially end your career but it does happen, and more often than you think.
When you work for a company, in a way, you represent their brand. The things you do and say publicly also represent their brand. Even if your page is private, things you say about your job on social media can always be shared, screen shot, or documented before you even get a chance to change your mind and hit the delete button.
If you decide to talk about work on social media, share things that are positive, promotional, or your own personal achievements (i.e. a raise, an award, the start of a new project etc.) So, what should you avoid sharing?
1. Any NEGATIVE encounter, exchange or experience about your boss.
(Ever heard the term, don’t bite the hand that feeds you? Let’s insert that here.)
2. Any NEGATIVE encounter, exchange or experience about your coworkers.
(You never know who’s cool with whom or what kinds of relationships have developed behind closed doors. You know that annoying coworker who never seems to do their job but doesn’t get in trouble for it? Say hello to your boss’s new favorite happy hour buddy. Be careful whom you speak on and when it comes to trust in the workplace, air on the side of caution. Your coworkers are your coworkers, not everyone is meant to be your friend or a part of your personal life.)
3. Any NEGATIVE encounter, exchange or experience about the company as a whole.
WHAT YOU SAID: This Walmart is so dirty and disgusting. The one I work at is so clean it would never look like this!
WHAT WAS HEARD: Walmart is so dirty and disgusting! – Signed, A Walmart Employee.
Make sense?
4. Your opinions on decisions your company has made that you don’t agree with.
5. Complaining about things you’re dissatisfied with at work (i.e your pay, specific policies, your schedule, customers etc.)
Having a poker face means being able to mask your emotions under stress. Apply this to your social platforms. Become one with your social media poker face.
6. Feelings about quitting, wanting a new job or other job offers you’ve received.
7. Company gossip or drama.
8. Your personal opinions that may contradict your company’s mission or purpose (i.e. a police officer sworn to protect and serve posting about hating certain demographics of people)
9. Any racist, sexist, or offensive comments. **
10. Confidential information that you’ve been entrusted with.
11. Any lewd or inappropriate photos of you wearing something with your company logo on it or at a company gathering.
12. Posts of you doing something other than what you took the day off for. (i.e posting a photo of yourself jet skiing when you’re supposed to be home sick.)
** People often take the stance that if you work for a company then the things you say and feel must also be the things your company says and feels, even if you didn’t mean to become an unofficial spokesperson. Therefore, if you post something racist, sexist or generally offensive (even if it has nothing to do with your job) that doesn’t match the views of your company, you could find yourself in trouble. Sometimes, public outrage that a company would even hire a person who could say and feel those kinds of things can be enough to get you fired. Be careful.
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