Jobhop Jobhop's blog : 10 Tweets Not To Tweet If You Want To Keep Your Job
“I didn’t know I couldn’t tweet that” is probably heard a lot throughout companies across the U.K. The truth is, without social media training and guidelines many employees are unaware that some tweets could be damaging to the company brand. What about common sense I hear you say... ah common sense, I wish common sense was more common! Common sense is so rare these days that it is now classified as a super power!
Because tweeting is just communication as we know it, just a group of mates getting together for a catch up, it’s ok if we’re feeling a bit negative and have a rant to let off steam, everyone does it. When the rant starts to become hostile, aggressive, extremely negative and disrespectful then you’ve probably crossed the line, but how do you know what the line is if you’ve not been advised?
What you have to remember is that we are switched on 24/7, you are your own brand, others will make up their minds about you by the content you put out. You may think "so what" but your tweets could affect your job opportunities now and in the future.
Whilst you’re employed you should also be responsible for protecting the brand of the company you work for. If your customers see abusive tweets they’re not going to think, that’s ok because it’s 6pm and after work it’s alright to be abusive! No, they’ll probably start buying their products or services from another company and stop following you on Twitter.
Let’s cover some tweets that you shouldn’t tweet if you want to keep your job.
Sex Tweets
Some of these tweets are so cringe worthy, these tweeters have no shame!
It’s full on raunchy sex tweet chat, not just a little flirt, sex tweets are usually very explicit. Then there’s worse! some tweets will have an image attached... seriously, you just want to say “get a room”
Abusive Tweets
Tweets that constantly have swear words stuffed into the 140 character limit are not attractive. When tweets are abusive and also targeted aggressively at someone then that’s quite horrendous. Classic examples of these type of tweets are when relationships break down and the people concerned start airing their dirty laundry on Twitter.
Racist Tweets
It goes without saying that these type of tweets are shocking and why would anyone want a racist employee? Paris Brown was employed by Kent police as a youth commissioner but soon quit her role when her tweets were investigated.
As well as racist tweets there were homophobic tweets, drug related tweets and bitchy tweets.
Don't make the same mistake as Paris Brown
Sexist Tweets
Sometimes there are people who think that being sexist is just being funny, they’re having a joke. This is lack of common sense, there will be people who will not see it as “funny” at all and will be totally offended. Do not ever try to be funny by being sexist it will back fire on you, just as it did with Ethan Czahor who lost his job over his sexist tweets. Something positive did come out of Ethan’s departure from his dream job, he created an app called clear to help other people delete tweets that could get them fired.
In case you need it here it is Clear.com
Confidential Tweets
It’s not right to tweet about customers confidential information, confidential company projects or anything personal that could upset fellow employees.
Don’t make the mistake of direct messaging a fellow employee and telling them about the office affair because that tweet can be screen shot and who knows where it will end up.
I Hate My Work Tweets
How many times a day do you see these tweets? I know I see them too many times! What are they thinking? Why just constantly tweet about how much they hate their job? If this is you my advice would be to start finding ways to enjoy your job and start tweeting positively, or hop to a new job, one you actually like, or start clearing your desk because you’re employer is on their way to tell you you’re not required anymore.
Bitchy Tweets
Never bitch tweet!
- “I’ve got heels higher than your standards”
- “Remember when you had a life”
- “What can you provide, apart from a headache?”
And worse! Why would anyone want to get involved in bitching one another on Twitter?
If this is happening between employees then there’s something seriously wrong with the company culture. If you’ve just realised that you’ve made bitchy tweets then I urge you to stop,it isn’t a good look. Nobody wants a bitch as an employee, they’re too destructive.
The only person that can nearly get away with bitchy tweets is Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins on Twitter) but she’s paid to be a bitch!
Drug Related Tweets
It goes without saying that any drug related tweets could get you into a lot of trouble, not only with your employer. Tweeting about drugs is just idiotic and irresponsible.
Bad Pic Tweets
There are bad pic tweets that are just annoying like selfie after selfie, which wont get you into trouble with your employer but may get you labelled narcissistic. Bad pics that could land you into trouble are the ones that could put the company brand at risk.
Types of pictures that could land you in trouble are:
- Drunk pictures, even worse if you have work apparel on in them.
- Naked pictures or nearly naked pictures.
- Violence related pictures.
- Drug related pictures.
It may not even be you posting them, somebody else could post them and tag you into them, you’ll still get into trouble.
At The Seaside Tweet
You’re probably thinking surely you can’t lose your job over a harmless “I’m at the seaside” tweet, you could if you’ve rang in sick that day! It happens, forgetting that instead of laying on the beach you should be laying in bed with a hot water bottle could get you into serious trouble!
So that was 10 Tweets Not To Tweet If You Want To Keep Your Job. My advice would be to go to your employer and ask to have social media training or at the very least some guidelines and remember that super power called common sense!
JOIN Jobhop and spread the word.
Pic credit Jesus Perez Pacheco
Julie Bishop Jobhop.co.uk
PRO
In:
- Social media