Professionalism 2.0
Most employees are aware
that professionalism encompasses their appearance, manners, and conduct on the
job. The way an employee looks and acts projects their personal image and
reflects on their employer's brand. However, the advent of social media has
created a new "frontier" for employee professionalism. Most employees
mistakenly believe that their words and behavior on social media sites and
other Internet forums have no bearing on their jobs. To the contrary, many
employers are already examining applicants' social media profiles as a way of
learning more about them.
Thanks to the advent of
social media, everyone that has an opinion now has a platform to share it. This
platform compels many people to post tasteless, thoughtless, and inappropriate
comments and photos to sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some posts even openly
criticize bosses or employers. In most cases, these comments and pictures are
available for anyone to see, including employers and prospective employers, at
the click of a mouse.
 |
What's it worth?
A 2011 Search Engine Journal survey showed that 53% of prospective employers checked applicant social media profiles before hiring. Those checks revealed that one third of applicants had misrepresented their backgrounds. |
Employers, quite rightly,
take offense when employees' online behaviors cross the line and affect the
workplace and the company's image. This kind of unprofessional indiscretion has
already cost many employees and applicants their jobs. To avoid this scenario,
employees and job applicants need to consider their public social media
activities as part of their professional appearance. Likewise, employers should
have clear social media policies that outline what is acceptable and what is
not for employees' public profiles; especially regarding comments, images, and
activities that reflect on the company.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Online and social media
behavior is now taken into account by employers as a measure of
professionalism. Employees and applicants need to regulate their online
behavior with the understanding that employers are watching. Employers should provide
guidelines and policies that let employees know what is acceptable and what is
not.
The above except is taken from:
The Center for Work
Ethic Development 2525 16th Street, Suite 214 Denver, Colorado 80211 United
States (303) 433-3243
Assignment: write your thoughts on this topic . . . here . . . due Feb. 27, 2013 no late posts accepted.
I believe that employers should not feel afraid to post whatever they want on their social page. They should be able to speak their mind without feeling as if someone is watching them all the time.
ReplyDeleteSteven Brown
Period 3
2/25/13
I don't think that the employers should look at social media sites because the employees are only voicing their opinion, and I think employees should not be judged by their opinions, but they should be judged by the way they work.
ReplyDeleteDavid Brower
Period 3
2/25/13
Now David, I-I'm happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but my comment was one of the best comments of all time!
DeleteHEEEEEENH!!!!!!
I feel that the employers shouldn't look at their employees social media sites. It's their private life, the employers should only worry about what they're doing while ON the job. They shouldn't worry about what they're posting on Facebook or tweeting about later because it's their opinion and their account.
ReplyDeleteHaleigh Brushaber
Period 3
2/25/13
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEmployers should not be able to look at others social media site because the employee should be able to post what they want as long as its not hurtfull to some people.
ReplyDeleteAlicia Scott
3rd hour
2/25/13
I think that this could help and hurt.
ReplyDeleteIf employers do this, they might figure out a little bit about the person they might be hiring and whether or not they want to hire them.
If they do this, it could also hurt. The way they act on the site may not be the same way they act in the workplace.
Abigail Tomalewski
Hr 3
2/25/13
I don't think that employers should be able to look at my facebook page. I can say whatever I want about anyone. I have the right to free speech. If I'm not on the job then I can freely voice my opinions. But I don't have to worry about this. Facebook has the best firewalls in the world right?
ReplyDeleteZach Driehorst
3rd hour
2/25/2013
I think employers really shoudn't look at their facebook because everyone is a completely diffrent person online than they are in person.
ReplyDeleteChris palmer 3rd hour
i believe that employers should not be able to not hire someone because of what they put online in the past. i think it is not right to not employ someone because of something they have posted in the past.
ReplyDeleteEmma renius
4th hour
2/25/13
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't think employers should look at their facebook page because what they put on facebook has nothing to do with their work ethic
ReplyDeleteLynsie Spackey
4th hour
2/25/13
I think that employers should be able to check facebook pages of future employees. You shouldn't post anything you wouldnt want anyone important to see because it will be there forever and may affect your future.
ReplyDeleteMolly Yszenga
4th hour
2/25/13
I don't think it is right for employers to look at employee social media accounts. This is their personal business, not that there should be anything inappropriate on it, but they don't need to invade their privacy. Although it may help make a decision about whether or not to hire them, the way they present themselves should help make the decision.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Przeniczny
Hour 4
2/25/13
I don't think employers should be able to look at their facebook pages because what they post is private information and not their bosses business. Facebook does not reflect how they do on the job.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Albain
4th Hour
2/25/13
I believe that it is an invasion of privacy for employers to check possible employee's social media accounts. Some people may have posted things in the past that they don't want brought up and it is in their past. It may be helpful to the employer to make a decision who to hire but I feel it should be based more on how they act today, how they present themselves, how efficient they work, and if they can help better the company.
ReplyDeleteAbigail Cloum
Hr. 4
I dont think that employers should look at employees profile and judge them because although there are innapropriate things on there that does not mean the employee will not be professional when they are working. It is an invasion of privacy and it is none of their employers business what they post outside of work. What they post on facebook or twitter will not keep them from doing their job. Nobody should be judged by their facabook page they should be judged on how you see them in person.
ReplyDeleteLexi Martin
4th Hour
2/25/13
I think that employeers should not check ones social media profiles because the person should be judged on how they work and not what they do in their spare time.
ReplyDeleteNicole Earl
Hour 4
2-25-12
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe employers should look at their employees social media profiles to get a better insight of their attitude. If the employee is posting inappropriate things about their fellow co-workers or the business they should be held a accounted for it because it can hurt the business. The things they post will only show their employer how mature they are and how dedicated to their work. Their social network accounts and posts are not private because they are putting the information out there for everybody to see. If they don't want to jeopardize their career than they would be smart, mature, and not post anything inappropriate.
ReplyDeleteAdam Audet
Hour 5
2-25-13
I believe that employers need to and have the right to look at their future and current employees social media sites. Some things that are said on these sights can come across as very disturbing to a boss. A manager needs to know what kind of person is working for them, therefore they do have the right to look at their social media pages.
ReplyDeleteBryce Crawford
Hour5
2-25-13
I believe employers should look at their employees social media profiles to get a better look at their habits. If the employee is posting inappropriate things about their friends or the business they should be held a accountable for it because it can damage the business. The things they post will only show their employer responsible they are. Their social network accounts and posts are not private because they are putting the information out there for everybody to see. If they want to post inappropriate things then they have to pay the consequences.
ReplyDeleteAustin Lake
2-25-13
COPYRIGHT^^
Delete;dghwripgjophjwjho[wriyjo[iwgjoiyhpwjr[yhjwth
What are you talking about?
DeleteI think the statement is okay to do. most employees do not think what the say or do online can be found out later, so they should be aware that their employers know what they are doing online.
ReplyDeleteKatie Williams
5th hr
2/25/13
I think employers should get the right to say if they want their employees to look at their social media sites. But I also believe that higher employees should be able to look at the lower employees social media sites to see if they are on it during the work day, also the higher employees should be able to look at their lower employees sites to see if they are a good worker. But the downside of this is the higher employer can look at the lower employees and can fire he or she if she says something negative on there company page and if they say something that will give the company a bad rating or a bad reputation later down the road. This what I think.
ReplyDeleteKelsie Kennedy
Hour5
2-25-13
I believe the employers of these workers should allow the workers to have social media profiles. The workers should be able to look what there future is going to be for them and allowing your workers to be happy will help your company. I also believe if they post inapropriate thing there should be consiquences as long as the workers know the penalties.
ReplyDeleteI think its okay for employees to do this. If they lose business because of it then its the boss's fault for hiring them. Its their personal Facebook or twitter where they should be able to say what they want. They should not be punished for being honest. If the employer couldn't tell this when they hired them then its their loss.
ReplyDeleteHannah Rumsey
Hour 5
I think that this its alright for employers to do this, because the employees don't think before they post things online. So I think its good that employers know what their employees do.
ReplyDeleteHannah Schmieg
Hour 5
I think that employers should be able to look on their profiles because they need to see if a applicant if a respectable person that is able to work the position. The employee should still be able to say what they want on their social media accounts, but should sensor it a little bit for others that want to view their page. The boss could punish the worker, but it wouldn't be right if they didn't know the consequences.
ReplyDeleteJacob Steenrod
Hour 5
I feel its an appropriate decision because if you are going to be not smart on the internet, what makes you an appealing employee to anyone. Also you are expressed through the things you say and it shows how you personality really is.
ReplyDeleteAustin Reaster
Hour 5
I believe that employers need to and have the right to look at their future and current employees social media sites. They should be able to speak their mind without feeling as if someone is watching them all the time. Nobody should be judged by their facabook page they should be judged on how you see them in person.
ReplyDelete