In: Operations Management
What about accepting friends request on social media from a colleague at work? May such an action result in major issues at work place? Do you think there should be any policies at the work place that would prohibit coworkers from having each other on social media?
Accepting friends request on social media shall depend upon whether they are actually my friends or just acquaintance or coworkers. It may certain result in major issues when our personal interests conflict significantly that may in turn have a bearing on our behavior and attitudes towards the other in our workplace. However, social media being our personal space, I do not think it shall be ethical to have a policy in place that prohibits the coworkers from having each other on social media. We have a life beyond the professional world as well and this space needs to be respected.
In order to safeguard the conflicts, however, I can mark my colleagues and Bosses as ‘acquaintances’ while adding them on my friend’s list on my social media accounts such as that of Facebook and filter them from viewing any of my posts or photos or rather limit the act, to the extent I desire to. This shall serve two purposes: first: That the acquaintances won’t feel hurt that I did not add them and Second, such acquaintances would not come to know my latest online presence as well. Besides, from my acquaintances, I would also like to safeguard myself from the third-party apps because those apps may also have the potential of leaking my activities.
In this way, conflicts based on social media friends’ circle could be limited at the workplace without having to restrict adding coworkers on our friends’ list.