Workplace

Is the boss on your Twitter trail?

Employers are starting to get “Twitter jitters,” said Matthew Hall in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Faced with the possibility of lawsuits, security breaches, and ruined reputations, many organizations are drafting guidelines for what employees can and cannot “tweet” about on the popular social-networking site. It’s a touchy subject. In the right hands, Twitter can be a powerful marketing tool. In the wrong hands—well, a lot of damage can be done in 140 words or less.

Employers “diving into the social-media world” should adopt social-networking protocols sooner rather than later, said Romy Ribitzky in Portfolio.com. Employees, meanwhile, can prevent their own “online crisis” by knowing the company’s stance on blogs, tweets, and online comments. They might also resist the urge to make personal posts during work hours or to broadcast ­complaints that could get them into hot water at work. “Before a personal Facebook status gets updated or a tweet gets blasted out, everyone should consider the same question: Is it okay to be doing this at work?” Or ever, for that matter.

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