Here’s some friendly advice for workers who want to reach out to colleagues on Facebook: proceed with caution.
Nearly half of senior managers at large companies say they are uncomfortable being “friended” on Facebook by their bosses, employees or clients, according to a new survey developed by OfficeTeam, a division of staffing firm Robert Half International (RHI).
“Friending your co-workers or even your boss on Facebook might seem like a good way to build rapport outside the office,” said Kelleigh Marquard, a metro market manager at RHI in Hartford. “But keep in mind that gives them access to your personal life including posts and photos you may not want them to see.”
The line between personal and professional connections blurs as social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter continue to grow, experts say.
More than six in 10 senior managers surveyed said they are uncomfortable being friended by their bosses (68 percent) or the employees they supervise (62 percent). That’s up from 47 percent and 48 percent, respectively, in 2009.
In addition, nearly half (49 percent) of those recently polled prefer not to connect with coworkers on Facebook, compared to 41 percent in 2009.
“Workers should evaluate the type of relationship they have with each business contact before inviting them to connect on Facebook,” said Marquard. “If you do add colleagues to your Facebook network, establish a separate work or professional list and adjust its privacy settings. This will filter your content as necessary and help protect your professional image.”
Social media experts recommend workers follow the leader when it comes to friending professional contacts. For example, let senior execs make the first move.
Consultants at RHI also suggest workers scope out whether colleagues have other employees in their networks before asking them to connect. If their lists are limited to favorite work pals, they may not be eager to friend a wider group of coworkers.
“People have different comfort levels when it comes to social media, so it’s best not to blanket colleagues with friend requests,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Along with being selective about who you ask to connect with online, you should always post prudently. You don’t want to share information that could reflect poorly on you.”
Hosking said some people are hesitant to reach out to business contacts via social networks, but there can be benefits if people approach it the right way.
When in doubt, experts say, social media savvy workers should ask first if others would be interested in connecting on a social platform before sending an invite.
Marquard cautions workers to monitor their social media activity by reviewing their profile to make sure there isn’t anything posted that could damage their professional image.
Experts agree it’s best to shield professional contacts from spring break party photos and verbal ramblings that could diminish a worker’s reputation.
“Rather than connecting on Facebook, it might be a better idea to invite your co-workers and boss to join your network on professional networking sites that may be more appropriate for maintaining business relationships, such as LinkedIn,” said Marquard.
Social media and HR professionals also say workers are not obligated to share updates with everyone in the office.
“It’s increasingly important to exercise discretion with everything you post online,” said Marquard. “When commenting on personal homepages, blogs or social networking sites, think about how your posts might be interpreted if seen by people outside your community.”
Marquard said people should be aware that whatever they post has an increasing chance of being viewed by either current — or even future — employers.
If you’re concerned about slighting people by turning down invites, you can accept friend requests but use privacy settings to control who can view certain content.
“Professionals should be constantly monitoring their digital reputations, not just when looking for work,” said Marquard.
