Does Your Workplace Have A Social Media Policy?

As social media continues to grow, statistics in Australia show all platforms increasing.  With it comes a blurring of the lines between personal and business communication especially in the workplace.

Social media is more extensive than simply having a Facebook account.  It involves a spectrum of technologies that include web and mobile technologies including blogging, LinkedIn, text messaging, MSN Messenger and Skype all Web 2.0 platforms that encourage interactivity.  This may cause disruption in the workplace as employees can become preoccupied with non-work related issues.

Some employers make social media sites inaccessible in the workplace.  However, blocking such sites is neither suitable nor practical particularly in this age of changing communication and youth who have grown up not knowing life without the online space.

The solution is to have a policy that is balanced and makes clear what is appropriate behaviour.  No one policy will work for all organisations.  Such policies need to be tailored to the culture of the workplace.  But there are some key points that are collectively relevant and important to consider:

o       Include a definition of social media

o       Make employees aware there is a policy

o       Have consequences for breaking the social media policy

o       Implement it alongside your Internet and email policy

o       Have a training session to implement the policy

o       Have employees sign off that they understand the policy

There is no doubt that the use of social media in the workplace has become one of the hottest issues in human resources for a number of years.  Social media is part of the dynamic and constantly changing world of communication in the 21^st century.  A blocking strategy is an overreaction and should be avoided, as employees will resent it.  A collaborative approach is more desirable and more in tune with a modern workforce.

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Tags: Online Reputation • social media in the workplace • Social Media Policy