A Necessary Evil

Based primarily on interviews and evaluations of existing practices and policies, this book emphasizes why companies must have social media policies and why they are important in governing employee behavior. Good companies pay attention to the social networking sites their customers and employees inhabit. They watch behaviors, they listen to concerns, they apologize when their companies make mistakes, they are transparent and honest, and engage their audiences and employees to foster growth, increase brand awareness, and tap their collective knowledge to improve their bottom lines. Anyone who manages employees who access social media from the palms of their hands or from their workspaces or even at home, must stay abreast of the constantly shifting ways social media does all of this while helping employees maintain productivity and avoid damaging reputations. In addition, managers must help employees be mindful of corporate values while safeguarding corporate data. This book will help business leaders, HR professionals, and people managers guide employees in their usage of such sites while balancing productivity and help HR set policies that do both.