As previously mentioned in this blog, companies need to be wary of when their employees post on social media sites, as releasing private, company information can be detrimental to the business as a whole.
Emily White, an intern for National Public Radio's (NPR) "All Songs Considered," recently posted about her collection of music – over 11,000 songs and just 15 CDs were purchased to make the compilation possible. White admitted to using a variety of sources, including using her friends, her job at a radio station and finally the sensitive method of file-sharing.
"As I’ve grown up, I’ve come to realize the gravity of what file-sharing means to the musicians I love," White wrote in her blog post. "I can’t support them with concert tickets and T-shirts alone. But I honestly don’t think my peers and I will ever pay for albums. I do think we will pay for convenience."
White's brutal honesty, while appreciated by some, was unwelcome and found to be unprofessional by others. Her post received 440 comments, with the most famous one being from David Lowery, of the bands Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. Lowery argued that White and her fellow Gen-Y-ers were "doing it wrong" and that they are the first generation "in history to rebel by unsticking it to the man and instead sticking it to weirdo freak musicians."
While file-sharing itself has been an issue since Napster's introduction in the late 1990s, it is not always the best idea for employees to discuss their personal feelings on topics in public forums. Businesses should ensure that all workers are made aware of company policy, to avoid any possible public backlash from such events. A business continuity plan is important to have in a variety of situations, especially ones that include bad press for a company.
Even if not all reactions may be negative, a business continuity consultant can prep enterprises about proper ways to react in any situation.