Take care before you share: The dangers of social media use in the workplace

Take care before you share: The dangers of social media use in the workplace

Podcast

Take care before you share: The dangers of social media use in the workplace

Podcast

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Kgodisho says that when it comes to publishing prohibited information about the company/employer, it doesn't matter whether you use a company phone or your own phone; the issue is about what information has been made published. Most policies state that it doesn't matter whether you are on duty or off duty.

Kgodisho adds that it is important for employees to be conscious of the material and views they share online, as this may have legal and reputational ramifications for themselves and their employer. If an employee’s social media post refers to or references their employer, or if the employee is publicly associated with the employer and there is a sufficient link to the workplace, the employer may discipline the employee for an inappropriate post.

Kgodisho further notes that it is easy to find and link an employee's views to their employer. Your social media footprint is there forever, so in the next ten years, when you are in a different role or with a different employer, a post from five years ago could come up and create a reputational risk for you and your new employer. Therefore, be very careful about what you post, as it may affect your future job prospects.