If you think a strict online policy will keep disgruntled staffers from slamming you on social networking sites, you may want to have a look at these findings.
According to a recent survey by Deloitte, 74% of employees say it’s easy to damage an employer’s reputation using social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.).
But just because employees are aware of the damage social networking slander can cause, it doesn’t mean they care.
In fact, the Deloitte study found that 61% of employees said they wouldn’t change what they do online — even if their activity was monitored by their employers. And 49% even said a formal policy wouldn’t change their behavior.
Check out the chart below for other significant findings about employees and social networking sites:
The study also found that 58% of execs believe companies should have some sort of plan in place to protect their reputations online.
To safeguard your reputation online, experts suggest a two-part strategy:
- create a simple social networking policy to protect your reputation, and
- monitor employees’ activity — and, when needed, discipline accordingly.