Posting a long rant on social media about a person or situation at your workplace may seem satisfying, at least in the heat of the moment. You may feel like you’ve gotten your frustrations off your chest and perhaps taken a bit of sweet revenge against someone who has wronged you. In the long run, though, the one you’re really hurting could be yourself.
Social media has opened up whole new worlds of possibilities in the realm of communications. The workplace is no exception. Social media can be a useful platform for networking, encouraging name recognition of your company’s brand, and getting to know other employees better. But this amazing communication tool is a double-edged sword. If you aren’t careful enough about what you choose to post about work on your social media accounts, you could really end up in hot water. You can also end up causing damage to other individuals and your workplace as a whole.
Think You Can Easily Remove Negative Posts From Your Social Media Accounts? Think Again!
One of the sobering facts about the internet which many people have had to learn the hard way is that once you put a statement out there it can be virtually impossible to erase. If you type an angry post about your boss or a coworker on social media and later choose to delete it, it may be too late. Someone close to the person you were ranting about may have seen it before you took it down. People may have even captured screenshots of your original post. So it’s extremely important to think long and hard before you post anything negative about any person or situation on social media.
Negative Social Media Posts Can Jeopardize Your Employment or Advancement Opportunities
Anyone who’s been on social media very long probably knows which of their friends tends to be a bit overly dramatic. This is the type of person who constantly posts passive aggressive comments and memes about people they feel have offended them. What many of these kinds of people don’t realize is that their online antics may actually cause them to miss out on future employment or advancement opportunities.
Potential or current employers sometimes look at the social media accounts of people they’re considering hiring or promoting. If they see that you’re someone who regularly gripes or argues with others, they probably won’t want to consider hiring you or advancing you to a better position within the company. By contrast, those whose social media accounts are filled with pleasant, agreeable posts with little drama are more likely to be considered for job opportunities and promotions.
Negative Social Media Posts Can Tarnish the Reputation of Your Workplace
When you badmouth your boss or your company policies on social media, that negativity can give your entire workplace a bad name in the community. Those who read your rants may choose not to do business with your company. In today’s unpredictable world an offhand exaggerated comment made by a disgruntled employee even has the potential to go viral and wreak havoc on a company’s reputation.
Negative Social Media Posts Can Hurt Employee Unity and Morale
If you choose to air your dirty workplace laundry on social media, be prepared for some of your coworkers to possibly jump into the conversation. Such conversations can quickly escalate, causing employees to take sides. When you all show up at the office after a heated online argument, you shouldn’t be surprised if you see tensions flare and productivity drop.
Negative Social Media Posts Could Even Get You Fired
If you’re not careful to watch what you post on social media, you may eventually find yourself out of a job. Bosses normally don’t take it lightly when they detect a spirit of discontentment and disloyalty in their employees. They could eventually come to see your lack of self-control and good judgment as a threat to the company and choose to let you go. If you decide to legally dispute your firing, remember that your boss will likely have ample evidence from your social media posts that could hurt your chances of winning in court.
So remember, next time your boss or a coworker pushes your buttons, don’t run to the keyboard to vent your frustrations on social media. Instead, use proper channels, such as your company’s human resources department, to constructively and maturely address the problems you’re facing.
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