According to Facebook , 300 million people worldwide use the social networking website. It's a way to keep in touch with others, share pictures, and even promote business.
But, companies are having to adapt when the border between personal and business collide. Sometimes it means drafting a new set of policies to help keep their employees out of trouble.
Victor Cardwell, an attorney at Woods Rogers in Roanoke, says with all of the new ways to communicate on the internet, come new questions about how an employer can regulate what you say.
"The company should have policies about whats done at work. But, even things posted outside of work that lists employees or customers or anything that may be company related. There would be concern by the company, whether they were at work or not. Your off duty conduct can have a direct affect on you remaining employed," said Cardwell.
Just this week, 10 On Your Side got an e-mail from a viewer who was concerned about an employee at Carilion who was writing general comments about a patient. We called Carilion, and they say there were no patients rights violated with the comments. Carilion was concerned about their employee using facebook while at work.
While many people use the networking sites to keep up with friends and family, more and more businesses are using them for self promotion.
WSLS even has a page to keep viewers updated.
Cardwell warns, even with companies approving of facebook, individual employees should still be cautious. "Businesses may do it and may promote it, but it does not give you the ability to violate company policy or talk about employees or customers," he said.
The Bottom line Cardwell says, "The moment you hit send, you have lost control over that situation. When you lose control and your name is attached, there is a risk."
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