Comments on: No flip flops in the office: or, why business casual just don’t work in a law firm

By: Chicago Law Office

Chicago Law Office — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:44:24 +0000

All of you make a good point about keeping personal and professional life separate. I do believe with the technology era advancing and social media taking over like a hurricane, it might be possible to blog about employers, but at the same time, image is everything. Some people just can’t look past the image.

By: Connie

Connie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:52:00 +0000

You are right, it can be a fine line. Steve has given some fantastic guidelines that will help you keep from going astray. I would suggest you could always email one of us (who have commented thus far) and pass a potential post past us, whether it might get you in trouble or not.

These are definitely important lessons to figure out, the earlier in your blogging career the better.

By: hypatia

hypatia — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:28:00 +0000

I agree with what you have all said – this was a rather idealist rant, and I know that this is pretty unrealistic in terms of how the real world, and real workplaces, actually work. As much as I may love it in theory, I can’t imagine that any workplace, no matter how liberal, would really be comfortable with complete honesty in an employees blog, even one not officially affiliated with the employer.

I do think that the onus is on the individual to write appropriately though, not on the employer to proscribe this. I want to be able to write honestly, but at the same time, my blog isn’t a forum for me to gripe about workplace greivances, or talk about sensitive work topics. I think that the difficulty can sometimes lie in finding this mid-point – what might to me seem like an innocuous but interesting post related to my work, might seem inflammatory and dangerous to an employer.

This is still a learning curve for everyone I think, with both employers needing slightly thicker skin, and bloggers needing to treat their workplaces sensitively when they need to.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:49:00 +0000

One thing that I found helpful when working in-house, was to critique the industry rather than using examples based upon one's ongoing work. It also helps to blog about solutions or alternate courses of action, rather than simply griping. Things don't always have to remain positive, but backing up one's negative response will reflect better on the individual and on the connected employer.

I understand what you're saying, and believe that employers in the future will need a thicker skin when it comes to employee profile. But that said, employees also need to watch the separation of personal and professional. If one's blogging is professional and connected to the employer, then behaving in that manner is required - especially when it can be connected back to the employer.

Very few people can 'free-wheel' in our society without recourse. And there's no magic eraser for a bad web blunder, except admitting to one's mistake. And even then, damage control can be difficult.

I don't think dialog should be repressed. But I also think professional discourse is more effective (and reflects better on everyone) when kept on the constructive & positive side of things.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:16:00 +0000

You are of course correct (don’t let anyone know i said that) but at the same time wrong. I work in a firm where it’s ok to wear business casual to work, CC has been like that for 4 years or so, but it is still NOT ok to be writing business casual as well, if doing so from a CC view point _ at least not in my experience.

That said, I agree with connie in be true to yourself.
Scott

By: Connie

Connie — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:11:00 +0000

Hypatia:

What you say hits very close to home. Support for raising one's professional profile if you are not a lawyer can be sparse. Even with positive support, the climate can quickly change without warning.

For myself, I have slowly come to the realization that for job satisfaction I need to incorporate my understanding of social media into my work. So, it is frustrating if I cannot take part in these conversations.

For now I try to limit myself to outside of work only, but long for the day when this is really part of my work. My workplace will ultimately have to change one way or another. ;-)

I too believe in pushing boundaries, but not everyone is at the stage in life or with circumstances to allow them to do so.

Whatever you do, be true to yourself.

Cheers,
Connie