Stay switched on to risks of social media
WORKERS and bosses are using social media in unexpected and sometimes unhealthy ways, with young people and first-time workers most likely to be caught out.
Lines of communications are blurred, risks are equal to reward, and Australian laws are yet to catch up to the trend.
But while it might be difficult to overcome demands for Facebook passwords at job interviews or sick notes delivered in WhatsApp, social media analysts say there are ways for both groups to use the networks positively.
Dionne Lew, founder of social media consultancy The Social Executive, said modern forms of communication had become essential to finding employment but their use in the workplace was far from straightforward.
“There’s a lack of awareness around what is OK and what’s not because professional and personal brands have merged,” she said.
“There have been examples of unfair dismissal cases thrown out … and there are other examples where more senior people have been sacked and that has been upheld by courts.”
But Ms Lew said companies such as Lenovo and Deloitte actively encouraged all employees to post to social networks during work time to “amplify” company messages.
Other firms, like ANZ, used internal social networks to improve productivity and communication.
A study from the Pew Research Centre recently found social media use at work “is not always clear-cut or entirely positive,” though it had potential.
The study of more than 2000 people found professional social networking use could be filed into eight categories, six of which were positive for businesses, including finding information to solve work problems.
But 56 per cent of respondents who used social media at work said it could also be a distraction from necessary work.
Media lawyer Roger Blow said there were much greater risks to using social media professionally, including being sued for defamation or being dismissed. “If you wouldn’t happily have something permanently attached to your CV, it shouldn’t be going on social media,” he said.
“You don’t want an employer to be reviewing a photo of you collapsed in the gutter with half a kebab over your face.
“In some cases, potential employers are requesting Facebook logins in job interviews.”
Ms Lew said workers should be aware of the company’s social media policies, and should consider using two social media profiles – one for work and the other for personal use. Do you have a job for a first-time jobseeker? Email 5000jobs@news.com.au to join the campaign. Jobseekers can visit facebook.com/5000jobs to find vacancies in their area.