I've posted a number of times about how blogging can get you fired (here and here). Frankly, this isn't a topic that I enjoy posting about, but blogs are such a powerful and public medium, and I think it's important for those who do blog to understand that there can be employment consequences and fallout from what they say on their blog.
There was a bit of a issue over at Technorati. Niall Kennedy, Technorati's Community Manager has his side of the story at Whose voice is it anyway?. Dave Sifry, Technorati's founder/CEO,has his side at Regarding Technorati's Community Manager, Niall Kennedy.
First off, the way these two gentlemen handled this situation should be held up as an example of how to deal with what can only be viewed as a difficult situation. Mr. Sifry has showed phenomenal leadership in dealing, head on with the situation and Mr. Kennedy, in turn, has learned a valuable lesson. Everyone will move on. As Mr. Sifry says, "we're treating this as a learning experience for everybody and putting it behind us, and hope that the rest of you do too."
I quote from Niall's post, as his words should be burned into the mind of all employee bloggers:
I failed to comprehend the effects of my actions on Technorati. I have always operated under the assumption that until I reach executive status at any company I work for I remain an individual voice and do not represent the organization. Just as weblogs and corporate transparency changed the world we love to interact with daily, it has also changed the way we see corporations. We establish relationships with companies through their engaged employees for better or for worse. The voice and actions of individuals become associated with the companies and organizations of their employ.
The past day has been a huge wake-up call. I see now that the voice of a company is not limited to top level executives, vice-presidents, and public relations officers. It is a huge responsibility on the individual and a bit difficult to fully comprehend until you have seen the effects of an economy of conversations. I need to be more aware of my actions as they are perceived as the actions of Technorati.
Robert Scoble at the Red Couch has a post entitled Dave Sifry and Niall Kennedy in lesson on corporate blogging and B.L. Ochman at What's Next Blog wades in with Robert Scoble Posts Lessons for Corporate Bloggers - Paste This Next to Your Keyboard!
The lessons learned from this are easily transferable to the area of employment law. When you blog at, about or on behalf of your employer, there are consequences, irrespective of where you happen to fall on the org. chart.
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