Recently I heard about a person complaining about their job and workplace environment on Facebook. This individual’s supervisors were friends of theirs on the social network. Needless to say the supervisors saw the employee’s comments. Within a few days, the company decided to state in the company handbook that employees are not allowed to post negative comments about the company on Facebook. If an employee is caught posting negative thoughts or comments, they will be reprimanded. To me this sounds like a violation of freedom of speech. People should be able to write what they want on Facebook or any other social network. An employer does not have the right to censor their employee’s comments or thoughts. Just because someone works for you does not give you the liberty to tell them what they can say or think about your company. However, employees should have the common sense to know that their supervisor can see everything that they post online, especially if they are added as a friend. While the company cannot tell them what they are allowed to say, they certainly have the right to reprimand the employee for comments detrimental to the company and the employee should realize that. Please feel free to offer your opinion on what you feel is appropriate for the company or the employee to do.
Posted by: David Ashbeck
I have also heard of this happening in the workplace. Though we do have the right to freedom of speech, I think posting something negative about a supervisor, fellow employee, or the company as a whole is completely uncalled for. This especially goes for people that are friends with their coworkers on social networking sites. I believe that it goes along with putting incriminating photos on your Facebook-even though it is not related to your job, companies will still use them to get an idea about you. Everything you do and say--even on the Internet--can reflect back on the company that you work for. If the company believes that it is putting them in a negative light, they should have the right to reprimand their employees.
ReplyDeletePosted By: Jenny Liechti
I completely agree. I feel like there is a sense of freedom of speech that can't be taken away, but then again there is a line. A person should be smart enough not to post negative comments about an employer without expecting any repercussion. If they had posted negative things about a friend, there would be backlash. Same goes for an employer. You are a representation of the company. If you wouldn't make the statement to a potential client, then it probably is not appropriate to post on facebook for the whole world to see.
ReplyDeletePosted by: Danielle Trasatti
team 3
I agree that posting something negative about the company you work for on any social network site is wrong and punishment should happen. With that said I do not believe a company should go out looking for negative comments from employees or inappropriate pictures. When a person leaves work they should have the freedom to do what they please but I think punishment is acceptable for some actions. If going on Facebook to talk trash about your boss is something you want to do then go for it. If you are naive enough to be friends with the person you are talking about then you definitely deserve punishment.This argument to me is a double edged sword because arguments can be made for both sides. I guess I am in the middle because I do feel that both sides are right and wrong. Social Networking is something all organizations have to get used to because it is going to be here forever.
ReplyDeletePosted By: Jacob Cyscon