As social media gains more users, people’s online lives and people’s real lives are starting to collide in unexpected ways. A few years ago, the big social media question for college students was whether or not to befriend your parents on Facebook. Now the new issue seems to be whether or not it’s ok to be friends with your employees online. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you come to the conclusion that’s right for you:
What kind of business are you running?
If you have a company with a strong online presence, it’s probably natural to befriend your employees on social media. A company that uploads frequent photos of its staff to Flickr or gives public project updates on Twitter is probably made up of people who wouldn’t mind interacting with their employer online.
Do you have a friendly relationship with your employees?
There are many different kinds of relationships between a boss and an employee. Some bosses stay in their offices all day and hardly ever interact with anyone below them. Some companies are designed so that employees at all levels work side by side every day. Before sending someone a friend request, it’s important to ask yourself if you have a friendly relationship with them, or if you would like to start one.
How do you use social media?
Do you use your Facebook page to post photos of your friends at crazy weekend parties? Do you upload frequent photos of your family? Do you share a great deal of political articles with your own added commentary? Do you mostly use it for networking and sharing your personal interests? There’s no right or wrong answer, but taking stock of what you post can help you make a decision on whether or not that’s something you want to share with the people you manage.
Need help navigating the world of managing your employees? At Burnett’s Staffing, we have expertise in just that. Our specialists can assist you with direct hire, temp-to-hire, and temporary placement of our great candidates. Contact us today for more information about our staffing solutions in Dallas and beyond. We look forward to hearing from you!