KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A legal services firm wants local companies to revise their employee manuals. Kander & Rigby says it's time to include a "Social Media Policy" section.
With more and more employees using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on-and-off-the -clock, more and more problems are arising. Think about Chiefs Player Larry Johnson who was just cut lose from his contract.
Diana Kander say companies without a social media policy can end up getting in trouble with their customers, competitors or the public. Think about the two Dominos employees who posted a prank video on YouTube and got fired.
Employees can also release confidential or proprietary information on social media sites. But more importantly, they can damage a company's brand.
A third of employees surveyed by Deloitte LLP don't consider the ethical consequences of posting photos or videos online.
Right now, about 15 percent of companies have a "Social Media Policy" for their employees. A number, Diana Kander hopes will grow quickly. She says companies without a policy are just inviting problems.
The policy can be customized to the employers needs. The goal is to tell employees what is and isn't acceptable behavior online. Kander says most include a section saying a breach of the rules can result in termination.
Kander says employees need to realize whatever they put on their Twitter or Facebook pages can and will likely be seen by their bosses. If they don't feel comfortable sharing it with their managers, they shouldn't post it.
For more information:
http://kanderrigby.com/
