BLOG ABOUT BOSS, GET DOOCED

KEEP that web log going, blo gevangelist. But don’t get dooced (fired from your job because the contents of your blog are work-related) by it. The blogosphere is now filling up with tales of employees who’ve been sacked for venting their spleen about company secrets, bosses, stock prices, overtime policy, co-workers et al, on the Net. Recently, a Californian automobile association fired 27 workers for speaking out against their organisation on their blogs. Many multinationals have also been in the news lately for sacking employee bloggers.

Blogs are big:

An international tech company that tracks blog developments says an estimated 40,000-50,000 blogs are created each day. A search of some Indian blogs threw up not only unsavoury references to a ‘kanjoos, khadoos boss of an IT multinational’, they also threw up information about ‘the sweatshop-like atmosphere where lowerrung employees are treated worse than slaves’ at another IT multinational. Employee blogs were not related to IT alone. Another blog spoke of a ‘boss of a leading hotel chain, and his not-so-nice activities.’ Says techie Nithin Jaidev, “Most Indian bloggers choose to remain anonymous, despite mentioning the companies they work for.”

Big Brother’s watching:

Not only are employees being fired, corporate guidelines on blogging and new blogging policies are also being put in place. A US IT major, which was among the first to publish a blogging policy for its employees, has fore-warned workers: “Using your web log to trash or embarrass the company, our customers, your co-workers, is not only dangerous but stupid.” Another US IT giant warns, “Don’t provide **** or another’s confidential or proprietary information. Know and follow Business Conduct Guidelines. Blogs, wikis and other forms of online discourse are individual interactions, not corporate communications...”

Not fair:

Many companies here already have guidelines about personal e-mail and web usage on company time. Blogger Neethi RS says, “Recently we were told that we will be violating the company’s disclosure act if we blog about the company. We don’t blog anymore; the bosses can use anything as an excuse to fire us.” Blogger Suresh Kumar says, “This is taking things too far. Blogs are supposed to be a space where you can speak freely. If companies are going to fire people like this, more anonymous blogs will come up. If it’s not harmful to the company, let it be.”

No to blanket diktats:

Issuing a blogging fatwa to employees is unfair, says Anuraj Jain, doctoral student. “Banning blogs doesn’t defeat the ‘idea of blogging’, because if you want to blog about something, you still can, despite a ban. Only this time with anonymity or by hiding the names of individuals or corporates. Employees need to be made aware of the privacy and ethics issues involved in the voluntary/involuntary disclosure of information.” He adds that considering most bloggers are usually in the age group of 20-25 years in India, it’s a good idea on the part of the company to make them aware of issues involved in dealing with the outside world, when it comes to information related to the company.”