What do you think of the clip attached which was cut from Facebook? I have blogged before (even yesterday) about how employees are the new customer… but sometimes no matter what your intentions are as a manager you will have an unhappy customer. (Wrong person, wrong role.) Personal blogging and social networking sites are an amazing tool. But are we educated enough or even ‘civilized’ enough to use them for good not for evil. Cyber bullying is rife.
Organizations do have rights too. Defamation is a crime. Employees may well have a voice, (as do customers) but using that voice to bully or belittle will not get them anywhere in the long run.
Ironic the at RedBalloon we see Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Flickr as tools of the trade to build our brand reputation and let people know us better. Infact if you want to see how we use these in a marketing communications then please connect directly.
Imagine running a business based on fun - that's what I decided to try when I left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon...
2 Comments
I think situations like this are happening all the time which is why we need to stress the importance of having a clear social media policy in place- individuals need to be conscious of what goes up on the internet because it can’t be erased.
In saying that- Part of me really believe that social media is all about the dialogue. Like organisations- individuals get the chance to respond to comments like this. These sorts of comments are happening anyway at the water cooler (and who knows- Maybe this guy was a tool to work for and he needs to get some feedback on how to manage people more effectively?) the difference is by seeing them online you get a better look at what has been said and can choose how to respond. Perhaps there is also a learning opportunity in there for the manager as well.
On the other hand, you are right. Things like this could be considered defamation if the manager’s reputation was injured. However, she didn’t say who she worked for or who her manager was…
It’s a very grey area at the moment but an interesting space to watch
I can not believe that the employee or the employer who really should of dealt with this in a more professional manner, can or would want to express themselves in this manner in front of potentially millions of people who like myself read this. What is this teaching the younger generation, we have all at some stage in are working careers not been happy but you just find another job. Has it really come to the stage where there is no longer respect between people. This young woman should not of said what she has done but for an employer to behave in this regard is not professional or setting a good example to others. I own my business and no matter how much people upset you whether it is employee or joe bloggs public two wrongs do not make it right.