7.16Employee Bad News: Nixing Facebook at Work (Objs. 1–5) Email Your boss at Ma

Question

7.16Employee Bad News: Nixing Facebook at Work (Objs. 1–5)

Email

Your boss at MarketingMatters, a hip midsized public relations agency, is concerned that the youngest employee generation may be oversharing on Facebook. Two supervisors have complained that they spotted inappropriate photos on Facebook posted by a small group of millennials on the company payroll. This group of twentysomethings is close-knit. Its members maintain friendships outside the office and in cyberspace. They are smart and plugged in, but they seem to have trouble recognizing boundaries of age and authority. They party every weekend, which is code for a lot of drinking, marijuana use, and even salacious escapades—all of which the young workers generously document with smartphone cameras on the spot and occasionally in real time. Sometimes they share snarky comments about their workplace, such as “Rough day at work” or “Talked to the most idiotic client ever!” On top of that, the young people think nothing of friending their colleagues and supervisors. Their “friends” rank in the hundreds; some in the group have exceeded 1,000 friends on Facebook.

MarketingMatters has embraced cutting-edge technology because the management believes that information sharing and collaboration tools can lead to networking opportunities and, if used correctly, to increased productivity. The company maintains a permissive stance toward Internet use, but concern is growing that the young people are headed for trouble. The abuses continue despite the company’s comprehensive Internet and social media use policy, which was widely disseminated. Probably the biggest risk MarketingMatters fears is the leaking of confidential information on social networking sites. The managers also complain that the millennials spend too much time on Facebook during office hours. Your boss is becoming impatient. After several meetings, the management decides to disallow Facebook use during work hours and to caution all employees against dangerous breaches of company policy and social media netiquette.

Your Task.

Draft an e-mail for the signature of your boss, Darcy M. Diamond, Director, Human Resources. Your message should remind all employees about the existing social networking policy and tactfully yet clearly announce the end of Facebook use at the office. The prohibition is effective immediately. Your message should also warn about the pitfalls of oversharing online.

Explanation / Answer

From :

Darcy M. Diamond,

Director, Human Resources

To : The Employees

Subject : No Facebook on the company's dime

It has come to management's attention that our employees are spending an increasing large amount of the time on Facebook during the work hours, which is against the company policy. Management believes that information sharing and collaboration can lead to networking opportunities and improve business relationships with the clients. But, we have noticed that this leverage is creating a trouble for the company's privacy.

Because on the increased time and energy many of you are spending most of your time on Facebook and other social networks, we thought it is important to issue a brief memo to clarify company policy towards this initiative.

Personal use of Facebook :

First of all, please note that the management of this company is committed to provide the best of the professional guidance and assistance to all its employees. But it does not mean the company would tolerate everything. Posting personal photographs and talking ill of the company or the clients is not tolerable on Facebook. As per the existing social networking policy, all the employees are refrained from using Facebook due to the breach in the confidential information on the social media network.

We would also want to warn all the employees using Facebook to be cautious while sharing personal and work related information, and while posting improper photographs. Please understand, world is watching you and so are our clients and customers. We request you to be in limits before it is too late on your part and which clearly indicates that it is the breach of the personal privacy of every employee working here.

Although the company maintains permissive stance towards internet use, the growing concern of insecurity from the employees end is forcing us to end the usage of Facebook during company's working hours. This prohibition is with immediate effect.

Bottom line - No more Facebook on company's dime

Thank you for your attention. If you have any questions or concerns, our doors are always open.

With Best Regards,

Darcy M. Diamond

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