What do you think about managers and employees being friends on Facebook?

Nurses General Nursing

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Do you think it's the norm to friend your nursing manager on Fb or follow on Twitter and Instagram? Is there a downside?

Do you think it's the norm to friend your nursing manager on Fb or follow on Twitter and Instagram? Is there a downside?

...is there an UPSIDE!? NO! This is a horrible idea.

Specializes in ER.

I'm FB friends with my manager. I'm fairly active on FB, post lots of photos that I take, an occasional news article with rare rants about how idiotic the world is. But mostly I post pics of my pets, my family, places I visit. My life is pretty tame though.

It hasn't been a bit of a problem. It's the norm in our dept to FB friend people. I think most sensible people keep FB tame and politically correct. I don't post any of my more controversial points of view there, I only confide those to close friends, in person.

I'm FB friends with my manager. I'm fairly active on FB, post lots of photos that I take, an occasional news article with rare rants about how idiotic the world is. But mostly I post pics of my pets, my family, places I visit. My life is pretty tame though.

It hasn't been a bit of a problem. It's the norm in our dept to FB friend people. I think most sensible people keep FB tame and politically correct. I don't post any of my more controversial points of view there, I only confide those to close friends, in person.

I have never once in my life met someone who someone else could not be offended by. I'd hate to offend my manager on facebook...

You go off on a rant about how stupid the world is...

...your manager's favorite niece happens to be in an identical situation as to what you are ranting about.

You do the math. Sooner or later, you will crap the bed with that.

Absolutely NOT a good idea. I do not have my picture as a profile and don't allow my coworkers to follow me on Facebook. The #1 reason: People tend to "share" with others. And I don't even think it is with any malicious intent, but just because it's a conversation starter. I personally have had many coworkers come up to me and show me another coworker's page and say things like, "see, this is his wife" or "oooh, look at her house". I don't want my whole floor seeing my vacation photos.

And somehow a manager is even worse because one post may change things a whole lot. Keep it professional, and keep your page private.

Specializes in Pedi.

Don't do it. There are many potential downsides and not a single upside I can think of.

My gut reaction is "What, are you joking?" Offensive, I know, but it's what popped into my head.

My reasonable, nurse reaction is that it is unprofessional to allow your employer to see your social media unless you are completely strait-laced and boring and everyone on your social media only posts in a professional manner.

Maybe it would be OK if your social media is strictly work related and does not have any personal info.

Definitely do not give your employer access to anything that they would be able to use as discrimination without being caught at it (example, religious retreat information, sexual orientation, photos of grandkids for age discrimination, support for various mental health issues or disabilities).

Another thing to be leary of is if your employer/manager has different moral standards, such as they don't drink and you do (or vice versa) or they are strict religiously and you aren't (or vice versa). If they find reasons to disapprove of you personally on your social media, they will figure out ways to create a paper trail to get rid of you. Not necessarily consciously, but it happens. Just read through all the "bullying" posts.

I never allow anyone from my work to follow me until after I leave that job. I have posts about ADHD, posts of me at bachelorette parties, and really personal posts for and from my friends and family about sensitive issues.

Yeah that's a bad idea. I know of someone who proved the manager was showing some preferential treatment because of fb. Her lawyer was able to prove there was an inappropriate relationship of blurred professional lines. There was no hanky panty .....I think, but it showed the manager's inconsistency of treating one staff nurse one way and other nurses differently.

Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.

No. Absolutely not. I don't even put where I work or live on FB and do not post photos of myself. The only pictures I have posted are pics of a horse I owned up until recently, and will post photos of my next horse but that's it. I'm about to be a new Grandma but will not post photos of Grand baby on FB. It's just not worth it IMHO.

Specializes in ED, Medicine, Case Management.

Facebook is for friends and families - people you can be your non-politically correct self around.

LinkedIn is the sanitized social networking site for co-workers, managers, general business/workplace networking.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I must be in the really small minority. I am friends with people at work, including my NM. We are about the same age. My page is so benign. There are more horses and dogs from friends from my previous career. I am not political, I am not overly religious, I really have nothing to hide. I don't rant or complain. meh

Specializes in nursing education.
Facebook is for friends and families - people you can be your non-politically correct self around.

LinkedIn is the sanitized social networking site for co-workers, managers, general business/workplace networking.

I'm reluctant to connect to management on LinkedIn, unless I want to "recommend" skills they really have.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I wouldn't do it. In fact I didn't intend to friend coworkers on facebook either, but once they friend requested me, I was afraid I would offend them by declining a request. I do think it is a bad idea to have your supervisor and coworker as friends, just in case you ever do or say anything stupid on facebook that you will surely regret too late! People can get offended by anything from stupid posts to religious or political differences. Some of my coworkers live to share their political views with everyone and it can be annoying. My political views are complicated and frankly I don't like either party. I see them both with jaundiced eyes.

A few nursing supervisors are friends with some of the coworkers. I don't know who friended whom first. Fortunately I'm not popular enough that any supervisor friended me and I think that is for the best! The supervisors are all fine people, but I just think it is safer to maintain a professional boundary and not befriend supervisors.

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