Is it weird to add coworkers on Facebook? This is a question many of us don’t know how to answer regarding bosses, colleagues and other professional contacts. But with the average person spending around 145 minutes a day on social networking sites, our virtual lives and professional lives will inevitably overlap sooner or later.
Social media has created a minefield of etiquette-based questions that we’re still learning to navigate in the workplace. Is our trepidation over the ‘accept friend request’ button justified?
While some recruitment agencies and HR experts explicitly warn against colleagues being friends on social media, some encourage it. Here’s a look at both sides of the issue.
Disadvantages of Mixing Social Media and Work
It can make you less productive.
Spending too long on social media can lead to distracted employees and a disrupted workday. For this reason, many companies choose to ban social media use on their network.
It can be all too easy to fall down the social media rabbit hole and lose valuable time at work without even realising it. What’s more, if you’re connected to your boss or colleagues, they’ll have a better view of when and how often you are active on social media – including work hours.
If your employer has a more lenient approach to social media use, be careful to keep things in balance. Save social media scrolling for your coffee break, and keep your primary focus on your professional tasks.
It places you under added scrutiny, which could cost you your job.
Nearly half (48%) of employers admit to checking up on current employees on their social media platforms. A third (34%) of employers say they have reprimanded – or even fired – an employee because of the content found on their social media profile.
Your personal social media might feel like the logical place to express your personal thoughts when you feel frustrated and need to vent. However, you run the risk of exposing more to your boss or coworkers than you intended. In recent years, there have been countless cases of employees losing their jobs for bad-mouthing their jobs, companies or coworkers.
It can impact your career progression.
Around 70% of companies use social networking sites to gather information on job candidates during the hiring process. This means social media can affect your working life before you even get onto the career ladder!
When it comes to the content you choose to share (especially without the right privacy settings in place), it’s better to err on the side of caution. Here are some of the most common social media faux pas that caused potential employers to reject a candidate:
40%: Provocative or inappropriate content
36%: Drinking or drug use
31%: Discriminatory comments
30%: Criminal behaviour
27%: Information that shows a candidate lied about their qualifications
27%: Poor communication skills
25%: Bad-mouthing a previous employer or coworker
Advantages of Mixing Social Media and Work
It can improve camaraderie.
The longer you work at a company, the closer you’ll become to some of your coworkers, bosses and mentors, which means friending them on social media is a natural progression. In addition, creating bonds outside of the workplace helps strengthen relationships within teams, leading to a happier working environment.
It can improve communication.
Getting to know someone via social media can help us tackle workplace small talk more effectively, leading to more meaningful conversations.
If used in the right way, it can boost your reputation.
Giving colleagues and bosses a glimpse into your personal life can help them to form a well-rounded view of you, as they get a chance to see your hobbies, projects and volunteer work outside of the office.
With all these pros and cons in mind, the question remains for many people in today’s workplace: Should you befriend your workmates on social media? Here are some tips to help you make the call.
Four Ways to Decide if You Should Facebook Friend a Coworker
1. What is your work culture like?
Your company’s culture should be a clear indication of how to proceed when trying to decide whether to accept Facebook friend requests or not. For example, is it a casual environment? Is there a strong focus on relationships, and are teams encouraged to socialise? These are all factors that should guide you to your decision.
2. Are you happy with the way you come across online?
Look at the last 20 posts you’ve shared or liked. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable with the way they represent you – would you feel okay with a peer or a boss seeing them? If the answer is yes, you’re probably in a good position to send a friend request or accept one, with little concern.
3. What do you have in common?
While it’s important to treat all your coworkers with professional courtesy, you’re not necessarily required to be friends outside of work. However, it’s not unusual to form genuine friendships at work through shared interests – if you’re friendly with a colleague offline, adding them online will feel more natural and less awkward.
4. Do you share work-related content on Facebook?
If your Facebook feed is a good mix of private posts and content on professional topics, you might consider sending or accepting a workplace friend request. Many people go beyond LinkedIn and use Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with business contacts and ensure that they post a decent mix of work and life posts.
Not All Social Platforms are Created Equal
It’s also important to note that not all social media platforms are the same – and not all are appropriate for workplace connections. So while you might be perfectly happy to connect with your boss and teammates on LinkedIn and Facebook or make some great industry connections on Twitter, you may want to keep those Instagram selfies and TikTok dances private!
TikTok especially has been growing in popularity, and it’s landed more than a few workers in hot water with their employers. There are countless light-hearted clips of workers dancing in uniform, which can certainly help to direct positive attention towards a brand – but all too often, videos that blur the line between personal and professional life can go awry. TikTok users making fun of their company or their customers – especially in cases where branding and logos are on full display – can end up being a PR disaster for the business in question. As always, caution is key… when in doubt, don’t chase clout!
At the end of it all, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions, and though it’s often best to play it safe, don’t discount the positive impact of building better relationships with your coworkers. Just make sure your Facebook privacy settings are maximised, and check them regularly to ensure they’re up to date.
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