Human resources firm Croner commissioned YouGov to ask employees
if they kept a personal blog and, if so, what information they
post. Of those who keep a blog, 39% admitted that they had posted
details which could be potentially sensitive or damaging about
their place of work, employer or a colleague.
Gillian Dowling, technical consultant at Croner, said that the
problem is similar to that of the early days of email use. “In the
1990s when emails were introduced as a new means of communication
employees were lulled into a false sense of security by the
informality that this type of communication brings,” she said.
“Many recipients received rude, angry or otherwise inflammatory
emails which had been written and sent in the heat of the moment,”
she continued. “Back then it was common to train staff on the use
of emails which included advising employees not to send
inappropriately worded emails in haste. Employees were advised that
the use of emails was the equivalent of sending or dictating a
letter, and just as binding. These concepts remain in email or
internet policies today,” she said.
“With blogging, the employee, sitting in front of his computer
screen, experiences the same lack of embarrassment as there is no
face-to-face contact. An employee can be lulled into a false sense
of security and sound off about his bad day at work on a blog
without fully considering the impact such a posting may have.”
“If there is a negative impact on the organisation’s corporate
image which is so serious that it breaches the implied term of
mutual trust and confidence, the employee could be dismissed for
gross misconduct,” she added.
“The blog could also be evidence of other conduct issues or
reveal workplace discrimination or bullying. Confidential secrets
could be disclosed including financial information or new product
development, or whistleblowing all of which could have a negative
impact on the business. Employers need to ensure that they
carefully consider the impact of blogging on their organisation and
take appropriate steps to minimise any potential risk,” said
Dowling.
