Employee Blogging is it a Corporate Image Issue ?
It seems that almost everyone has a blog today . Blogs are are the new “Coronation Street”. People may not talk to their neighbors anymore . However they may well be following their online blog. Yet that blog roll may well spill the beans about what should be considered private and confidential workplace matters as well as proprietary if not trade secrets and procedures at the firm and home office.
It seems as if anyone and their dog has a blog. Whether it is their own , hosted on a free blogging platform such as “blogger” or ” word-press” , or self hosted, or even if the worker or client is simply responding to blog posts and posting their own comments , the result to you, your firm or organization can all be the same – loss of company secrets , well held information or worse – damage to the firm’s or organization’s well deserved , hard worked image.
In spite of the fact held , by most business people over the age of 40 , that having a web page , and hosting a webpage is an expensive matter this is not so. Such “authorities ” are misinformed to say the least. You might even hear them say about some crackpot relative “Where does he get off having his own webpage ?” , this is downright wrong. A blog is of little cost , or in most cases free of charge. If you can type on a standard office word processor – such as Microsoft Office , or Open Office , then you are entirely capable of being the webmaster of a blog. Failing that there is no law saying that you can not post comments on other people blogs , replying to their questions , concerns and postings. The employee posting blog replies may think that they are doing a good and valuable tasking – simply adding value and information to any given blog.
Working stiffs in your employee , or even those past your employ , and who were “let go” are in a position to a lot of damage to your hard earned “corporate image”. On top of that once out of the floodgates , it is virtually impossible to control and limit the spread of this information . Once on the “net” , it is now fair game for copy and dissemination. Never mind the caches and stores in and around and through out the whole world wide web .
What do marketing and information technology consultants recommend as a matter of course of planning and procedures ? Its no accident that a major enterprise has emerged on the web , of removing negative comments and postings on the web . On top of that it is an expensive and time consuming procedure , often to little avail except substantial costs to offended companies. Fire departments have fire prevention departments. So should you when it comes to employee blogs and their postings.
Believe it or not , there are organizations out there , whose management view their role in life is to protect their perks and privileges . Any open concerns and discussion is seen by this form of management as a personal attack on them , or a direct threat to their apparent power and position. Its a matter of no matter what “I will teach you who is boss” ( often at great expense to corporate morale and profitability ). It is hard to imagine a greater means of creating dissension , hostility and even anger in the ranks.
Your company , firm or organization , most likely has extensive policy and procedures manuals already . Do these manuals have procedures , polices and rules when it comes to blogs and online blogging ?
At the very least have employees sign a waiver or non disclosure. This should be prepared properly with legal authorities , and should have a clear time line. Again its about clear rule and statements.
Blogs and blogging are playing an ever increasing role in marketing as well as SEO ( Search Engine Optimization) tactics and procedures in the world of internet sales and marketing. Use blogs as a positive tool in your employee.
Tagged with: blog • blogging • corporate • employees • H.R • HR • internet • IT • law • online • privacy • Security • technology
Filed under: blogging
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