Blogging has created a new era of having your voice ‘be
heard’ through the blogosphere. It’s a portal to vent your emotions, share ideas and
thoughts and connect with others that interest, share the same ideas and are in
the same situation as you.
Blogs are like an online diary that once you share over the
internet it is made public for all eyes to see.
After reading the reading by Richards and Kosmala on work and employee blogging, this made me realise the positives and negatives of owning and publishing a blog.
After reading the reading by Richards and Kosmala on work and employee blogging, this made me realise the positives and negatives of owning and publishing a blog.
As the growing need and demand for social interaction over
the internet via social media is expanding, the threat of defamation and
damaging someones name or company is more prevalent.
Blogs give people the freedom to say what they want,
whenever they want.
This making it a large threat to companies that have venting
employees using blogs to get rid of this emotional build up in
their heads.
Ellis and Richards (2009) “found employees to be attracted
to blogging about work because these online forums offers a form of voice other
than that provided by trade unions.”
Not only do blogs give freedom of speech but they also have
the potential to attract media attention which “given to work blogs has led to
intense online discussions about the defence of employee rights” (Schoneboom,
2011).
For a company this media attention could be the best thing
with a reference of their business through a blog that comments on its positive services and products or it could be damaging through online discussion about their
negative practices.
With social media being so accessible for daily use by
anyone on the go with the increase in technology to access social media, this means that whatever is discussed on the Internet will be made
available for any eyes to see.
This YouTube video discusses the idea of how companies
should consider establishing clear guidelines when it comes to their internal
employees using blogging and social media. Social media can be a great source of promotion
and advertising for a company if it is use effectively and ethically.
References:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=747PGdPu3ZU, ' Employee Bloggin Policy and Employee Social Networking Pol, YouTube, 2010.
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfTUFUGpV97KlcIKFqzW_4nPYq7WsmNLJOorBKNu_2YBIQigvsMEr4qss91H1i-1CYvRpWGMNGzv-WUQ3NfjEGsCLfOLue7T5efIMelJ46XLia6j42bCuwON_U7wJCvukJ46a4O6CMpGQ/s320/Employee+Blogging+Guidelines.jpg (Google Images).
Ellis & Richards, 'Employee cynicism through work blogging', p. 69, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Schoneboom, 'Employee cynicism through work blogging', p. 69, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Hi Prue, your post was very clear and easy to read due to the way you wrote and presented your ideas. You incorporated the week’s topic well and I agreed with the points you made. Blogging really does have its pros and cons, it might be a great way for people to vent their emotions and opinions but it could be a huge cost for companies if they get a ‘bad review’. I also liked how you presented a problem and a solution by providing the YouTube video on how companies can cover their backs and set guidelines. Well written post!
ReplyDeleteHi .. Great blog this week! It was well written and easy to follow, and presented some interesting points on Blogging about our workplace. I liked your inclusion of the video, and think that more and more businesses are going to have to follow suit and create guidelines for use of the blogosphere, and also all social media. In PR terms, the web is a minefield of risk for any organisation who has disgruntled employees (and let’s face it, most of them do). So its a really good point to raise.
ReplyDeleteAll employers need to be media savvy these days and stay ahead of the game in terms of monitoring the web for online mentions of their brand. We thankfully live in a democratic society where it is ok to voice your opinion, however also thankfully, employers do have the ability to remove, ban, and respond to defamatory content, as long as they monitor continuously and thoroughly.
Thanks again. Great blog,
Prue J
Hey Prue,
ReplyDeleteI can't express how well you've articulated this piece, it has presented clear and concise points on blogging in the workplace. The fact of the matter is that society in general can be quite a judgmental place. As individuals we must do all that we can to ensure we do not reflect poorly on our employers and co-workers.
If utilised correctly, I do believe that social media can be a great avenue to present a business in a very positive light. As you mentioned, social media is extremely accessible nowadays and therefore we must be careful in the way we maintain ourselves regarding our workplace not only in real life but online as well.
I liked how you incorporated a YouTube video discussing how companies should establish guidelines when it comes to blogging and social media. Until recently I had no idea my work actually has specific guidelines regarding the use of social media! Great post!
Hi Prue,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the really informative read.I thought it was well set out and easy to follow throughout the entire piece. I agree it is really important for employees to be able to voice opinions freely, even if it is about their workplace - although I think special precautionary measures should be considered specially if the employee isn't speaking highly exactly of their employer or company. Comments are permanent online, and many workplaces have confidentially agreements for employees. Just a thought whilst reading, but I really enjoyed your post!
Thanks
I agree that blogging is definitely a way for people to get their voices out there and get their voices heard and I think that in some cases in terms of employee blogging with intention of promoting companies or products, the act of blogging could be tainted. I know that when it comes to American YouTube beauty bloggers or other blog/vloggers in general, they’re bound by law to state whether or not they were paid to review the product or given the product for free by the company. I know that in some cases this has definitely swayed the reviewer’s opinion in that even if they don’t particularly enjoy it or feel that it works they tend to go out of their way to find some way to paint the product or company in a positive light.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases though when people are not tied down to companies or organisations, when starting their blog of their own free will, I find that they’re generally more practiced when it comes to being honest with subscribers. They feel no need to positively (or negatively) shine a light on specific things, which you point out in your post when you say that “blogs give people the freedom to say what they want, whenever they way.”