By Elmer on February 27, 2010

Mashable reports that according to one survey conducted by Liberty Mutual’s Responsibility Project, 56% of Americans think it’s irresponsible to be connected to a boss in Facebook. And as if bosses return the favor, 62% of them think it’s wrong to friend an employee.

I find this surprising to see the high level of unwillingness for both boss-employee Facebook connection. For the record, I have connection to at least four of my past superiors at work. I don’t see any reason why I should open my profile to everyone except to bosses. If accessing Facebook at work is the issue, then that should justify this survey feedback.

Other findings from the study include a polarized take on whether social media profiles should be part of screening job candidates: 52 per cent say it is appropriate and 48 per cent disagreeing. In my opinion, why not? If a candidate’s profile is filled with random postings about Mafia Wars and Farmville at any given time of the day, is that enough evidence that this would-be employee has poor work ethic and display proof of unproductive day at work?

Since the survey polled only a thousand people, these responses should be taken with a grain of salt. Yet, they exhibit some interesting issues about the sensitivity of the intersection between social media interaction and workplace. We have read news about people losing jobs or job perks because of Facebook (a “depressed” woman’s vacation photos cost her benefits, a worker criticizing his employer got sacked or people who simply don’t understand how a single Facebook update could impact a career). Such phenomenon extends beyond employer-employee relationships; Facebook posts have found a way to arrest a fugitive, ended a relationship or broke friendships.

What is your take on this matter? Should bosses and workers avoid such social media connection or the other way around?

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toucanzoo

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