Posted: March 18, 2011

[br][br]There are many stories out there already, which any manager will share when complaining about employees. There is the one with the salesman who scans Twitter for hours. And then there is the employee who harasses a co-worker several cubicles down from him by hijacking her Facebook account and posting harassing comments. And of course there is the worker who slams the employer on LinkedIn and is fired.

From workplace distraction to conduit for stalking, harassment and other criminal activity, the rise of social networking has its supporters and its detractors. While some lament the greater bandwidth demands, virus/Trojan infiltration and social engineering - identity theft - issues that can pummel a company's computer network and employees, along with sapping of productivity and channel for co-worker harassment, others point to the teamwork and mental break productivity enhancement outcome.

While initially scrutinized by law enforcement agencies with hopeful candidates who hope to be a badge bearer, employers have now embraced its usefulness as a method of assessing the true character and traits of aspiring employees. On the flip side, for some enterprises, the ever-expanding world of Facebook and its ilk has encroached into the workplace with devastating professional and personal consequences.

But can the likes of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and FourSquare be used in the workplace in a way that doesn't expose supervisors and employing organizations to moral and legal liability? Can the anonymity-germinated freedom of the Internet that workplace bullies, would be Lotharios, and just plain lazy folks are emboldened by be controlled and channeled into worker productivity? The answer is a resounding yes.

The key for supervisors and executives is to recognize the uses and abuses facilitated by the innovation and what steps should be taken to control the relevant actions. Here are a few tips:

* Have clear policies. Specific policies need to be in place to govern the use of the Internet and social networking sites. While some organizations may find it easier to just ban access altogether, this is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. A middle-of-the-road approach is more appropriate for most employers. Have them sign for those policies indicating that they have read, understood and had the opportunity to ask questions.

* Educate employees. Make sure that employees, as well as supervisors, understand what is expected of them as far as social networking conduct within and when referring to the workplace. While you're at it, reinforce sexual harassment, related issues and their consequences.

Employees who bash the workplace online can be heading to a heartache-laden experience for everyone. While free speech and whistleblower protections exist, the laws vary from state to state. Employees may not be on as solid footing as they thought when confronted with disparaging comments they posted online.

Take steps to assure them that such online networking etiquette expectations are in place to protect them, as well as the company.

* Take technological precautions. Be sure to keep one step ahead of the nefarious forces of the Internet. Continuously updated anti-virus protection, mandatory changing of passwords on a temporal basis, and strong firewall protections are imperative. Web filtering systems are also available to enable the employer to restrict access based on a number of different options including time frame - such as breaks or lunchtime - or a time limit -such as one hour per day.

* Monitor usage. Be able to monitor Internet usage and, in particular, social networking within the workplace. Be sure that employees understand that their computer interaction is being recorded. This oversight is vital as the company may bear civil or criminal responsibility for some actions of their employees.

The democratization effect of the technology has diffused communication channels and put more power in the hands of individuals. As said in "Spider-Man": "With great power comes great responsibility." Employers need to be properly suited up to fight the scourge of villainous social networking in the workplace.

Richard Weinblatt, The Cop Doc, is a former police chief, ex-criminal justice professor, past police academy director and author. To reach him, visit www.TheCopDoc.com.