Etiquette

Consider these questions as you review the examples below. Try the quiz from the left menu: What Have You Learned? after you’ve spent some time with this section.

In early 2013, an employee of KFC was fired after her employers came across a photo of her licking mashed potatoes on social media. Although the employee argued that the picture was taken after the restaurant was closed and the potatoes were never served to a customer, KFC executives took her postings seriously and fired her.

 

No job is perfect, and the first few jobs you get might actually be awful! Regardless, be careful with whom you talk about your job. Communicating online often means that the material is read by more people than just the intended recipients.

• For example, if some of your co-workers are Facebook friends, they will be able to read your Wall posts, group discussion postings or status updates. What will they think when they see comments about your job, your workplace, and them?
• Similarly, if you have been given a company email address or use a company computer, your coworkers and bosses might have access to information that was created using their technology. Some companies have clear privacy and confidentiality policies and some do not. Keep your personal correspondence separate from your work: use a different email address for each, and don’t mix them up!