#317 - CyberBullies: Protect your Staff and Business
In seconds a nasty joke or photo can spread via SMS or Facebook... With young staff living on their phones and free of inhibition, it doesn't take long for harassment to start, especially in large organisations where managers are more detached. Cover yourself: update policies & monitoring to protect staff and business.
- You don't have to join, but every manager should be familiar with Facebook privacy, Myspace and other online forums - ignorance is no excuse. Learn about their options and settings - many staff like using these services but don't want to be bothered by bullies and creeps.
- Monitor comments about your business and key staff with tools such as Google Alerts and Facebook's notification system. Yes, it's new territory to learn about.
- How are you 'listening' to staff conversations? Are you keeping up with the new world of online communication? Are supervisors doing their job properly - they are the ones closest to the people who are often affected. This is not snooping, but part of your Duty of Care.
- Once is enough: usually harassment is ongoing or a series of events. Legally, however, just one act can constitute harassment or bullying, and claiming it was an 'innocent joke' won't protect you...
- Prohibition won't work: advising staff to stop all online or text message activities is unrealistic, as is banning mobile phones at work. What's needed is guidance on appropriate use, and close monitoring for bad behaviour.
- Add information and rules to your Staff Manual: use the new CyberBullying Policy Template - designed specifically for hospitality situations. It's the warning attached to the Social Media Guidelines for Staff and another thing to watch in the rush to promote your business on Facebook.
- Businesses can also be bullied, with everyone now able to share negative opinions and hatred on review and comment sites. Learn about specific ways to monitor positive and negative comments about your business. There are many downsides to the new openness!
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