Social Networking…and the boss

Among many concerns relating to social networking, employment issues and right to freedom of expression are becoming more and more prevalent.

There seem to be more stories every day about someone who was caught out by their boss after taking a sick day, by posting comments and photos on their Facebook page detailing their drunken exploits the night before. Some forget their boss is on their friends list, have public pages, or are friends with colleagues only too happy to share their ‘sick’ co-workers stories and embarrassing photos.

Another issue is whether social networkers can practice freedom of speech and at the end of the day, vent their frustrations toward their job and employers.

Twice this year a professional rugby player in New Zealand has come under fire for comments made on social networking sites. The first incident was a message sent to a friend on Facebook, after he was not selected for the Wellington Lions match side during a Tri-Nations break. In it, prop Neemia Tialata describes the Wellington union/franchise as a joke, and later says of his comments:

“I suppose I was naive to think they would stay private on Facebook. I apologise for any offence that I have caused,”

This week the All Blacks are in London on their end of year tour, and it was widely believed by the media that the team named to face England would be the strongest team, essentially the ‘A’ team.

The players themselves find out the team on Mondays, with the official naming usually on Wednesdays. Players are expected to keep the team details under wraps until the official naming.

During the tour Tialata and fellow Wellington player Cory Jane have been keeping their fans up to date via Twitter. With 140 character comments on team activities, personal feelings through the tour, and pictures on TwitPic, fans get a rare chance to experience the tour through the player’s eyes.

However after the team was announced to the players on Monday, both Tialata and Jane updated their Twitter accounts to let their followers know they would not be playing in the team against England.

Tialata's Twitter update, and reaction to media coverage

Cory Jane’s Twitter post read:

Cory Jane sees his non-selection as chance to relax, and reacts to media coverage of the Twitter posts

Stuff.co.nz claim to have ‘broken’ the story after checking the pair’s Twitter pages. Henry has said that it is not a major issue and the players would receive a ‘gentle reminder’.

The story has been published around the world, with major newspapers like The Age and the Daily Mail devoting column inches to the incident the All Blacks camp are brushing aside.

Although this instance did not involve personal comments against employer or team, one suspects it may be a breach of protocol and will possibly be dealt with quietly to avoid more bad publicity and distraction ahead of their game.

Advertisement