The Professional Hazards of Personal Blogging

The act of blogging is a fairly new phenomenon that has caught on in a big way. Today, there are blogs that cover fashion, food, politics, technology, you name it! Some of the most successful bloggers out there are those who have focused on, well, really nothing at all. They have simply delivered fun, interesting and insightful material for others to read. I have come to understand that there are two takes on this whole blogging craze: people either love ‘em or hate ‘em.

1. Love ‘em

People embrace the creativity involved in the blogging process and while they themselves might not have one, are devoted readers of certain blogs and feel there is merit and value in the what the writer has to say.

2. Hate ‘em

People who hate blogging generally say that blogs are just another way for people to make themselves seem bigger than what they are (read: validate themselves) or simply have nothing better to do than sharing obscure details about their lives with complete strangers.

I'm not here to take a side on this issue or to say that blogging is right or wrong, stupid or enlightening. Instead, I want to talk about a few instances of good people who are great at their jobs and loose them because they write a personal blog. I first saw a spot on the Today Show about professionals getting the axe when their personal blog was discovered by the HR department. Then, it seemed to be everywhere that I was hearing about another person getting fired for having a blog. I began to wonder why an employee who wrote a blog posed such an issue to company execs. What I have found is as follows:

Companies Watch Their Backs

Your employer could care less about your latest blog entry covering your opinion on animal cruelty. What she does care about is the fact that you represent her company. What if something you wrote ticked off the wrong person? It seems that, in the world of personal blogging, people keep their identities pretty private and this usually includes work experience/place of employment. The last thing you were thinking about when you wrote that post was work, right? You were simply stating an opinion and reflecting upon it; wondering if there were others out there who shared your beliefs. Your employer, however, does not see it quite so black and white. If one person knows you work for her company and disagrees, that is potentially a lost customer or a misconstrued view of the company she holds so near and dear to her heart. Presidents, CEOs, executives and those who keep their company are simply terrified by blogging and are trying to protect themselves the best way they know how - scaring you out of writing a personal blog.

If You Choose to Blog, Do So Wisely

Okay, so you know how your boss feels about blogs and you still want to write yours? The first step is to re-visit your trusty employee (or HR) manual. There should be some sort of policy addressed on writing for an outlet other than your employer. You will need to study it and make a decision from there.

Some companies have a zero-tolerance policy in which if you blog, you are simply fired. It is as simple as that. Other companies maintain that if the employee's blog is on a personal level and nothing involving your employment is written, then no rules have been broken.

Some companies have yet to even introduce this issue into their manuals. After checking it out, it is best to talk to your boss directly. Be prepared for a not-so-warm response and for some immediate negative feedback, as your boss is trained to look out for her company first and foremost. After you have delved deeper into what your company deems acceptable, you will know how far you can take your personal blogging.

I can tell you that in researching this topic, I have found that the fast track to unemployment is most definitely bad-mouthing or even mentioning your company and/or employer by name in your blog posts. This is not a good idea.

The issue of blogging and holding a career while not mixing the two is new territory to many. While expressing yourself through personal reflection in the form of a blog might be refreshing, you will need to prepare yourself on what steps need to be executed in order to ensure you can keep this refreshing outlet and your job.