To Quote Trump, “You’re Fired!”

Today it was reported that a Swiss Insurance worker called in sick because she needed to lay in the dark and couldn’t use a computer. The only problem is that her employer saw her Facebook activity during her “sick day.” The insurer states that she wasn’t fired for her actual activity on Facebook but for “the abuse of trust.”

Why You Should Care

After a certain amount of time on social networks, it becomes easy to become complacent with your activity and soon enough, you’re used to Twittering from your phone about going to the movies (at the same time you forgot a meeting you were supposed to go to) and uploading Facebook pictures of your vacation (although you just vented to a coworker about how you’re too busy to help).

Fighting Complacency and Comfort

Because of the informal nature of social networks, it is easy to become overly comfortable, especially if you’re branding yourself as an individual rather than a corporate identity. We encourage everyone to do something simple: be honest, alleviating the need to keep your story straight.

I can’t tell you how many times people (including me) have ratted themselves out online with their social network updates and activity. I’ve told my parents (who are on Facebook) that I was too busy for dinner and they probably saw that I was shooting the breeze publicly that night about American Idol. I have had subcontractors say they are too busy to work on a project but I can see them Twittering about how bored they are.

Don’t Be a Lying Swiss Insurer

So although you may not get the axe like the Swiss Insurer, you may destroy your reputation with simple slips of the tongue, so be informal but NEVER EVER be complacent with your online behavior!