Social Media and the Workplace 

Ways improper social media use can damage the Company       Potential damage to the Company’s reputation    Inadvertent disclosure of confidential information    Exposure of network systems to cyber-attacks when using company devices   Loss of employee efficiency   Loss of talent if behavior results in employee termination

Relatively speaking, social media is a fairly new technology and there is not a lot of scientific, peer review research establishing any long-term consequences, good or bad, resulting from social media use.    

So, is social media good or bad? The short answer is yes to both. And it’s for this reason that the complexities of how employees and companies handle the use of social media, whether it’s at work or away from work, have the potential for misunderstandings and mishaps.  

Southern Company’s Electronic Communications Acceptable Use Policy states in part that: 

“users are accountable for electronic communications activity (email, social media, text messages, instant messages, etc.) during personal time, using personal devices, if their use could affect the business or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates.”  

Such employee activity may lead to management action which could include discipline up to and including termination.  

Let’s try to unravel all the public and private debate on social media and the workplace. An employee’s social media activities, whether they happen during actual work hours or on  

personal time, can have a major negative impact on their job and the Company.   

Social media use is being considered by many experts as a new form of addiction. A behavior that can be highly addictive which can cause an employee to be preoccupied in a very unproductive manner.   

TIP - To help combat these social media ‘urges’ employees should set strict self-imposed boundaries and be mindful of the amount of time they spend on social media.    

Personal, religious, and political views that normally would not be openly shared or expressed in person are much more frequently shared on social media due to the belief that the platforms ‘protect’ them or serve as an electronic ‘buffer’ from the consequences of their online interactions.  Some personal ‘posts’ can even harm a person’s reputation and open the floodgates for people (including co-workers) to judge you, form prejudices, sometimes subconsciously, based on your opinions, choices, and personal life shared on social media.    

TIP - The best way for an employee to protect their privacy is to avoid any posts that could have a negative impact on their career or the Company. Employees should stop and think before they post anything because everything in social media becomes permanent content.   

Employees should be extra careful not to let social media turn their personal problems into work problems. Through social media, an employee’s problem could further aggravate and affect their work relationships and performance.    

TIP - Employees need to keep things professional in the workplace as personal problems or problems with co-workers can have a significant negative effect on their immediate workgroup.  

Overuse and inappropriate use of social media in the workplace is a complex and challenging issue confronting management daily. While social media presents numerous benefits, its improper use could pose serious consequences to the employee and the Company. Social media is constantly evolving with the ever-blurring boundary lines between work and the private domain presenting new challenges at every click, post and scroll. Combating these issues is a top priority for Company leadership.   

Visit policies.southernco.com to read the Electronic Communications Acceptable Use Policy in its entirety. Speak with your manager or contact your Compliance Director if you still have questions.