At work, everyone is really keen on checking each other’s social media. Just the other day, a friend pulled up another friend’s vacation photo right in front of him and said, ‘You took a leave from work, but is this a beach?’ Sometimes I post stories and such, I’m not exaggerating, but honestly, it’s made me a bit uneasy. Should I focus on work or our private lives? Do you think this is normal?
6 Answers
6Yeah, my old boss was like that too, he would literally snoop through my social media like it was gossip. One time, I posted on my story, ‘I’m tired after work,’ and the next day at the office, he sulked and said, ‘So I guess work is tough for you.’ I mean, some people just can’t separate their personal life from work, always looking to control everything.
I think it’s true, the boss is right. If you’re taking time off work to go to the beach, they’ll ask about it. There’s a seriousness to work life. Don’t share these things at your workplace and then complain about ‘why are they looking’.
Clients can check your social media, but this could create a problematic situation from an employment law perspective. For example, what you post during your approved holidays is considered private as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work. However, posts made during working hours may be contrary to work ethics. It can be difficult to draw a clear line from an employment law standpoint, but if you’re uncomfortable, you can discuss this situation with HR.
Let me add this, for instance, I don’t share anything during work hours. I always post either during lunch break or in the evenings. Yet, I still feel like I’m being watched. There should be a boundary, you know.
What’s with this logic? Do you really think it’s not a problem if you share it outside of working hours? The boss can’t distinguish that, and sees it as a threat to his work in any case. Some people just can’t relax without feeling like ‘everything is under my control.’
Here, boundaries and records seem more important than emotions. It’s safer to hold on to messages, payments, conversations — anything — and then take a step back with a clear mind.