Don't befriend your colleagues on social media: here's why

With the boundaries between work and personal life becoming more blurred, it's easy to forget why it's a bad idea to befriend your colleagues on your social media account.

As many as 1.6 million Aussie workers have regretted inviting their boss or colleagues to be a friend on social media, according to a recent survey by Adecco.

Opinionated comments, racial slurs, and using information from people’s posts against them in the workplace, are some of the reasons that made people regret having friended a co-worker on social media.

In fact, one in four Australian workers (25 per cent) has been appalled and distressed by the social media posts of a colleague or boss, completely changing their opinion of that person.

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“I was so shocked by a Facebook post from a colleague in a sister business that I have stopped referring them work altogether, which may end up costing their company more than half a million dollars in lost revenue per year,” one survey respondent said, for example.

While we might think the younger generation of workets are the most likely to to blur work and social boundaries, they are actually least likely to invite colleagues on social media, with 25 per cent fearing their opinions and posts will affect their career prospects and a further 13 per cent concerned about being caught taking a sickie when they're out with family or friends.

While the survey revealed that more than three-quarters of Aussie workers would never invite their boss to be a friend on social media, only 21% would decide against applying this same rule to other colleagues.

Wanting to keep work and private life separate, having a fear of making things uncomfortable at work or fear of saying something embarrassing on social media which may not go down well with the boss are the top three reasons given for deciding not to befriend a boss.

Top reasons Australians regret befriending colleagues on social media

- Opinionated or racial comments

- Post innappropriate material

- Posted something which got taken out of context and lost job as a result

- Used information from the social media feed against the worker

- Led to gossip mongering in the office

- Friends post funny quotes about bosses, which you don't want the boss to see

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Five top tips for social media and the workplace

1. Don't befriend the boss on social media

2. Be careful when adding colleagues

3. Never post anything you wouldn't want your boss or colleagues to see

4. Don't check in anywhere if you're supposed to be sick at home

5. Stick to LinkedIn and professional channels for work engagement