How to Avoid Getting Fired Due to Social Media Read

In the age of social media, public sharing of personal information has become the norm. It’s not unheard of for someone to air their grievances, share their frustrations, post photos of their antics, or simply share too much information. But social media users are also realizing that there can be major consequences for over-sharing — especially when it comes to employment. Well-publicized cases of people being fired for the content they share (or for social networking at work) have many second-guessing their social networking behavior.

Sacked Thanks to Social Media

Employers are increasingly finding reasons to terminate employees because of their social media interactions. A 2010 Proofpoint survey found that 7 percent of companies with over 1,000 employees had terminated a worker due to a social media post, and 20 percent of companies report disciplining employees for violating social networking policies. Worse yet, the actions of others can also have a detrimental impact on your employment. According to a Microsoft survey, 14 percent of people believe they have been negatively impacted by the online actions of another person. Of those, 21 percent believe they were terminated from a job because of these interactions. Another 16 percent of those believe the social media actions of others prevented them from being hired.

And social media blunders don’t just affect individuals. In 2011 an entire agency was fired after an inappropriate tweet sent shockwaves through the auto industry. According to AdAge, New Media Strategies was let go after a rant posted on Chrysler’s official Twitter feed negatively addressed drivers of Detroit and contained explicit language. The individual responsible for the tweet was then terminated from New Media Strategies—all the more reason to reconsider everything you plan to post.

What Not to Share

Individuals posting to any social media site should do so with caution if concerned about employment repercussions. Whether right or wrong, many employers view an employee’s social media exploits as an extension of the company. Although not all companies will terminate an employee based on their social media indiscretions, red flags may be raised for the following infractions:

• Badmouthing the boss, company, or product (or expressing negative, false, or inappropriate comments about competitors, which can be construed as the company’s views)
• Posting or being tagged in inappropriate pictures
• Posting status updates when off work due to an illness
• Posting off-color, controversial remarks that go against the company’s mission, vision, and values
• Posting confidential or sensitive job-related materials
• Breaking any corporate policies or laws that could jeopardize the company or its customers

How to Use Social Media Appropriately

The crackdown on social media doesn’t mean users should stop sharing on Facebook or Twitter. But there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances that employers will misconstrue your intentions or even see your posts at all.

Monitor your profiles: Delete comments of photos posted by others that you do not want to be seen by current or potential employers. If you are tagged in a photo that you are uncomfortable with, either remove the tag or ask the poster to remove the photo. Google your name to gauge what others may see about you when they do the same.

Set your privacy settings: Customize your privacy settings, limiting who has access to your accounts. Users now have more options than ever to filter their posts in different platforms. You can create different circles in Google Plus, specify which group of friends can see a post in Facebook (and edit your Timeline), or make your Twitter feed private. Privacy settings will continue to become easier to manage, so take full advantage to protect yourself.

Know the company’s social networking policy: Understand the position your company takes on social networking. Some companies have explicitly defined policies for their employees while others are much more lenient. Be sure to know where your company stands before posting anything that may be construed as inappropriate.

Remember, too, that if you are utilizing a company device to access social media accounts, it is likely your company has the right to monitor any and all activity that is performed while using their property.

Fact of the matter is that social media sites are designed for sharing. You just never know when a friend-of-a-friend may also be a friend-of-the-boss. Always think twice before sharing your adventures — or opinions — on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site.

Have you been professionally affected by your social media use? Tell us about it in the comments below.