Workers Liable To Reveal All To Network Sites

Before an employee from Kentucky Fried Chicken or the Coca-Cola Co. posts the secret recipe or formula on Facebook or Twitter, there are a few things employees and employers should know.

A survey released by Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers Cos. Inc. revealed how the use of social media can expose businesses to risk. Of those surveyed, 30% felt it was acceptable to post information about their employer online as long as they believe it is true.

Another finding in Travelers’ survey was that more than 75% of those who post anything personal online said they were “not at all” or “not very concerned” about information posted online causing professional damage. Maybe that means John in accounting thinks pictures of him doing beer bongs last weekend are just way cool and not likely to hamper his career advancement.

Travelers’ global technology unit conducted the online survey of more than 2,000 adults, exploring the trends of social media and the potential risks to businesses. Because social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter have become popular quickly, two-thirds of the respondents said their company did not have a policy in place for social media use, or they are not aware one exists.

“By implementing policies to address social media usage, and making employees aware of those policies, businesses can reduce their exposures to legal liabilities, breaches of proprietary information and damage to a company’s brand and reputation,” said Kathy Swendsen, president of Travelers global technology unit, in a statement.

She added that “employees’ increased use of social media may amplify a businesses’ exposure to potential liabilities such as harassment, defamation, copyright infringement, and privacy violations.”