When Boss Wants You To Be A Facebook Friend

In the early days, the social-networking site Facebook had the feel of an exclusive club.

[wrtaylor]

I don't know much about office ettiquette, but I would feel extremely infringed upon if any superior asked to become my "social network" buddy, especially if I don't consider that person a friend in the first place. More importantly, I don't think any boss should feel offended if a subordinate refuses to participant or make strong inferences that they do I believe that the lines of what's appropriate for inisde and outside of the workplace are becoming too blurred and this is a classic example

[alex]

right on. i agree totally. i actually got fired because of my myspace page, but facebook allows me a certain privacy that myspace does not.

[JeS]

All you have to do is 'ignore' the friend request and the other person only sees 'friend request pending' and if they ask you about it, play dumb...'why, i signed up but i never have time to use it'...works like a charm.

[Tanya]

The main reason your boss wants to be your "friend" is so that he/she can see what you get up to after work and whether or not you are on face book during office hours - not because they want to be your friend, don't kid yourself. Workers can then be sidelined for promotions ec. because of their after hour antics. ie, he is a drinker, doesn't show discipline needed or for who he associates with, they think it is cool to list all their information ,i.e., what denomination they belong to, political views, things you usually wouldn't share with everyone, and all this can be used against them and definitely jeopardise their work relationship.

[Frank Rizzo]

Time to grow up and not have a facebook or myspace account.

[Fester]

maybe your boss actually wants to be your friend. Go get a new therapist and get over it

[Ashley]

I think it is completely unprofessional for a boss and worker to be friends on Facebook or Myspace. What I do after hours is nothing to be ashamed of but it's none of my boss' business what I do before 8:30 am and after 5 pm, Monday through Friday and making that information available to my boss would cross a professional line. A boss is your superior, not your friend.

[Common Sense Sometimes]

"Social Networking Site"
I believe that phrase loosely translates to:
"Idiot Magnet"
If you folks think that there is nothing wrong with having all of this information about yourself stored on SOMEBODY ELSES hard drive, then you are morons.
The twenty somethings are going to be kicking themselves in the butt by the time they're forty something.
The vast majority of you are going to regret that you ever got involved with this nonsense.

[Disco]

Common Sense Sometimes wrote:

"Social Networking Site"
I believe that phrase loosely translates to:
"Idiot Magnet"

Exactly! How about this novel idea. Instead of sitting in front of a PC all day and night, conversing with total strangers, how about actually getting out in the world and meeting people face to face!?
Another 5 years and we'll have a society of shut-in hermits!

[WoosterSquareCom mune]

Live in a real place like New Haven or Boston, rather than in some faceless suburb, and you won't have to use facebook. Ever.

[John]

Wow, I don't use Facebook to meet new people as much as I use it to keep in touch with old friends. I love how people posting comments on an online article are complaining about people spending too much time on the internet. Does anyone else see the irony in that?

[Gee John]

Gee John....
We're just commenting on an article...
Unlike these idiots who post pictures of themselves smoking dope or showing their new tattoo that they got on the butt.

[Kristina Cowan]

I appreciate Mehalik's candor in saying he would let his boss know a friend request made him uncomfortable.

Perhaps this is largely a generational issue--I wonder if the dynamics will change as baby boomers come upon retirement age and more members of Generations X and Y take on leadership roles in the workforce.

I looked at this topic on my blog, The Salary Reporter, at:
http://blogs.payscale.com/salary_report_kris_...