Definitely odd - they're asking you to do it, which makes it a work task, and yet you are not allowed to do it in working hours!
In most organisations, I wouldn't want management to have access to my fb page, so I wouldn't do it anyway.
Sorry couldn't think of an appropriate thread title!
This is a bit reduntant to me anyhow as this is my last week at work, but I thought this request was strange.
All the staff in my office have received an email from management saying that they'd appreciate it if we could all 'Like' their business page for sales and marketing purposes.
Ok, not a problem really, but when you consider the internet policy which everyone has to sign, stipulating that basically work and personal life should be seperate and therefore all social media sites are banned and warnings given to anyone attempting to use them on work computers and even on personal mobile phones, it seems strange to me that they'd ask us to do this?
One of my coworkers replied to our manager jokingly asking if we now have Facebook access at work to which she got a very curt reply - stating that this MUST be done in our own personal time.
Is it just me that finds this request a bit... odd? Really cannot think of the most fitting word to use at the moment! Unreciprocated??
Last edited by lady_neon; August 13th, 2012 at 01:40 PM.
Definitely odd - they're asking you to do it, which makes it a work task, and yet you are not allowed to do it in working hours!
In most organisations, I wouldn't want management to have access to my fb page, so I wouldn't do it anyway.
No I wouldn't do it by obligation O.o what a strange request!
It's just a request which means you have every right to not agree to it. You can like a page but it doesn't mean they see your feed, so it's just a matter of promotion on their part only. I've done it for work purposes before, to promote something someone else has worked on, and it's a good way for companies to market themselves these days.
I think it's going to happen more and more. If you're not comfortable with it, don't do it. I told my boss, my profile pic has me in purple and black tights with pretty goth make-up on (think black lips) but she loved it, coz it showed 'diversity' on the page lol.
When you put it that way - yes it is odd.
From a general business point of view, they are promoting a page and social media seems to be the way to go about this. How best to promote their own page but through the employees, who tell their friends who tell their friends etc etc? They have to start somewhere.
In your case, I think it is odd that they would make a big deal of banning FB etc then ask you to "like" them. lol! I certainly wouldn't feel obligated to "like" their page, given their attitude & lack of trust in their employees.
I don't think I've ever worked somewhere where FB isn't banned. o_O
Though given some of the things that come through FB, I wouldn't necessarily think it's appropriate for the office anyway. Just today, I saw a picture of a model in the nude on my feed. I've seen pics of women getting felt up in clubs. Racists memes were reported just last week. I personally think a company has a right to say that FB isn't appropriate to be accessed at work.
Oh yeah Sushee totally agree with you there, I don't have a problem with not using FB at work - I'm here to work! It was just the double standards thing I found it a bit odd.
As long as they're not forcing anyone to do it, I wouldn't even blink an eye about their request. Personal use vs assisting them with promotion/marketing are pretty separate in my mind. I reckon LOTS of business are going to jump on the bandwagon, if they haven't already. So maybe that's why I don't personally find it odd.
FB isn't banned at my workplace. In fact I get work through FB!!
Helps being my own boss and all.
In your circumstances, OP, I wouldn't like the page.
Hypocritical in my opinion. We had a similar request a while back, but it was very polite, and was combined with a new policy of allowing fb to be used in the work space ... But with very strong reminders of the code of conduct. Personally I have not and would not view my own fb account at work because what I can see, the sys admin can also see. I prefer my own personal life to remain personal and not muddy the waters. If I felt I needed to have a fb relating to work activity, I would open a fresh fb account using my work email, and restrict that account to only engaging with colleagues or professional contacts. But the request that you describe is outta line, IMO.
I wouldn't like their page. If they say anything about it then I would say 'as per my contract my work and personal life are seperate'. I dont want to be accessing anything to do with work on MY facebook page during my own time.
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