Are Social Media Web Sites Helping Or HURTING Your Business?

Seems like all you hear about these days are social media web sites and how businesses are using them to communicate with customers; but what you don’t hear (as often) are some of the downsides of this new and vastly popular media as it pertains to protecting your online reputation, employee productivity and confidentiality.

    In the US alone, the average time spent on social media sites has increased by 700%. If you are using these sites for marketing purposes, it may be GOOD news, especially if these social media junkies are spending some of that time reading your Twitter posts or becoming fans of your Facebook page. However, if your employees are spending hours online chatting with their friends or goofing off, it can mean thousands of dollars in lost productivity. Plus, let’s not overlook the risk of them posting confidential information online or “jokes” or comments that could be offensive to customers.

     Here are 3 quick tips that every business owner should have in place:

1.   Have a signed social media policy in place for your employees – and enforce it. This should be added on to your acceptable use policy for online usage. Outline what web site they can go to, when and what they can (and cannot post) online.

2. Sign up for “Google Alerts” on your company at www.google.com/alerts. This service will send you an e-mail alert whenever someone posts something regarding a keyword you specify. We recommend setting up alerts for your name and company name at a minimum.

3. Install and use content filtering software for all employee PCs. This will automatically police employees’ online usage and enforce your policies. Of course, if you need help in setting up any of these policies or content filtering software, give us a call!

508-992-2541

Is It Legal For Employers To Monitor Your Computer?

Courts have ruled that an employer’s monitoring of its employees’ e-mails and other computer related activities during work hours and/or on company-owned equipment, Internet, and e-mail accounts is not illegal.

Companies typically monitor employees’ online usage for the following reasons:

1. To avoid claims based on sexual, racial, ethnic, and other forms of harassment.

2. To protect against an employee sending or posting confidential information.

3. To reduce exposure to intellectual property infringement claims.

4. To decrease the likelihood that an embarrassing message attributed to the employer will be sent.

5. To guard against computer viruses.

6. To improve productivity.

It is recommended that employers create an AUP (acceptable use policy) that outlines what is and isn't acceptable use of electronic media and communications. If your company does not have an AUP in place, you need to act now! Call us for more information: (508) 992-2541

Tweeting Could Land You In Jail

The Associated Press reports that Guatemalan Jean Anleu may spend five years in a Guatemalan jail for his anti-government Twitter rant.  It makes him the first person in the world to be arrested for a tweet!

Using his Internet alias "jeanfer," Anleu advised Guatemalan depositors to "take cash out of Banrural and bankrupt the bank of the corrupt."  According to prosecutors, these words "illegally undermined" the banking system, violating a 2008 law enacted by the fledgling democratic government.

Foreign governments aren't the only ones concerned about the use of social networking sites.  Many US businesses are revising their acceptable use policies regarding company-owned technology to include social networking.  A recent survey estimated the annual cost to US businesses in lost wages due to personal use of technology on company time topped $1 billion.  FREE assistance with the creation or modification of acceptable use policies is one of the many benefits enjoyed by our Network Headache Eliminator Platinum clients.