Never add your colleagues in your facebook!
By Porkchopchop
@Porkchopchop (324)
Hong Kong
July 11, 2011 4:05pm CST
I know the function of facebook is for you to interact with your friends. But the point is, are your colleagues really your friends? You may regard them as your real friends, but it doesn't mean they are thinking the same.
My brother is working in a large scale company in my city. Because of inevitable office politics, his boss always confronts with his bigger boss and hence my brother, who got friendly with his boss, is in a difficult as his bigger boss hates him as well.
He added a lot of his colleagues into his facebook friend list. Once he expressed his unhappiness derived from the difficult situation he is facing. But few days later, his bigger boss informed him that he would receive disciplinary punishment because of the status on his facebook. Later on my brother learnt that one of his colleagues captured the screen and sent the jpg to his boss (in order to please the boss for sure).
I understand that his colleagues' motives, but I am just unhappy with this. It is so unsecure to add colleagues into the facebook friend list. So DO YOU HAVE YOUR COLLEAGUES OR EVEN BOSS IN YOUR FRIEND LIST? ARE THERE ANY OTHER TYPES OF PEOPLE WHOSE YOU SWEAR NOT TO ADD?
2 people like this
9 responses
@alphenor (686)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
People always live in competition.
That's why I wish that I won't need to do an office job so that I wouldn't have those kind of scenarios.
If there's really one thing that every internet user should remember, it would be "Everything you post over the internet can be used against you."
That's why I wish that I won't need to do an office job so that I wouldn't have those kind of scenarios.
If there's really one thing that every internet user should remember, it would be "Everything you post over the internet can be used against you."1 person likes this
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
14 Jul 11
If only the word friends wasn't invented... there would be no betrayal T___T
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
12 Jul 11
Oh yes, I dont really want to work in office, especially an office with a lot of women. You know if there are more than one woman, there are usually conflicts and disputes, concerning not only matters on work, but minor stuff likeclothes we wear, cosmetics, appearances, etc. It is so so troublesome everytime when I think about these kind of scenarios.
I will always remember your advice, my friend. I had a very bad experience before. One of my net friend disliked me because I rejected him to be his girlfriend. He then tried to search my information on the Internet and made use of my xanga blog to attack me and disturb my family members. I was forced to delete my blog to protect my family and friends.
But this time is different. Facebook is supposed to be a good thing or say a good tool to us, but now people use is as weapon to attack others in office politics. How sad our life can be?
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
Hi porkchopchop!
I was in a similar situation before!!!! I have added a lot of my co-workers to my Facebook friend list and that was my biggest mistake. When something bad happened at the office concerning the boss of one of my friends, I had posted a status that expressed my anger and frustrations over that boss. Of course, my friend was able to read that but I don't really put blame on him when his boss learned about it. It was his co-worker in their department who saw my status, he was at my friend's back watching my friend as he surfed Facebook that day. He was the one who told their boss about it. It really taught me a lesson, of course, first and foremost, not to bare everything to Facebook. And then, to block other people from viewing all my posts. I don't also add all my co-workers because I don't know who is pro- and who is against. I'm just really careful now. I don't even add my boss.
Cheers. 
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
12 Jul 11
Hi! I am sorry to know about that...I can totally understand how you feel. To me, I believe that we should have the freedom of speech, to express our anger and sad feelings, not everywhere, but at least in our little paradise - facebook. I just dont understand why the colleagues need to be that mean, not considerate and why the boss need to deprive this little right from us!
I agree with you that we should hide some posts from them, so now I usually make use of the privacy setting in facebook, divide my real friends, family and colleagues in groups, hide my friend list, and ask my family to set their facebook in a very restrictive level as well. I think it is the best measure to protect ourselves as well as our family and friends, and at the same time, not offending our colleagues.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
13 Jul 11
Yeah, the privacy settings is really useful. But there were some people at the office who I did not add because I know they are definitely the ally of my enemy. 
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jul 11
I think that one thing people need to remember is that for most 'colleagues' their job comes first. And anything they can do to put them in a better position with their boss is paramount in their eyes. I don't think it was right of this person to capture the Facebook account and this just goes to show how selfish some can be. I don't think it a good idea to share Facebook with colleagues. I know this is an isolated occurence but it can so easily happen. Why take the chance. Either keep such feelings to yourself and off Facebook or take the chance.
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jul 11
The boss has no right but it was a big mistake of the person to put it in their status to begin with.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
12 Jul 11
If people do not come down to personal level and take an opportunity to teach a lesson to a colleague or a friend Facebook is a good site be in. Yesterday one user raised the question if or not we should befriend student as a teacher and vice vis a vise.
Of I admit that colleagues are dangerous than students.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
16 Jul 11
Absolutely true. If the teacher maintains a distance between his/her students and themselves I see no harm there.
Rather students can get their query cleared they could ask the teacher there. So the student has got the benefit even outside the classroom.
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
16 Jul 11
Yes, colleagues are dangerous than teachers, at least teachers will not do something which really harms you. I once worked at school and added some students in my facebook. One of students told me that she did not share everything with me, like her activities in a pop-star fans club because sometimes she may use foul language to quarrel with other pop stars' fans.
You may think I find it sad knowing the fact that she doesnt regard me as her friend. But in reality, teachers and students are not supposed to be friends or getting too closed (at least before they are graduated)! In fact I think it is good for her to set her facebook in that restrictive level as I don't have to monitor her on how she use facebook and how she interact with her friends.
If I find her using foul language in facebook,it would be quite embarassing and it really put me into a very difficult situation.I will have to inform the disciplinary teacher to deal with this situation, she may then hate me as she may think I betrayed her.
So to think in another way round, I am glad that she know the concept of protecting herself.
@ddaguno (3107)
• Philippines
12 Jul 11
I do have colleagues added as friends on my FB account but I know that I shouldnt post any office discontent on my page.
If I do, I post it in my native language so no one in the office can understand i dont think anybody in the office hates me that much to make the effort of researching for the translation just so he could report it to the boss 
i dont think anybody in the office hates me that much to make the effort of researching for the translation just so he could report it to the boss @Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
14 Jul 11
lol You should teach me your native language (especially the foul language in your mother tongue lol)!! Then my colleagues will not know I am scolding them!!!
P.S but you still have to be careful, you know there are a lot of translation softwares available online, it is actually very convenience to get the tranlation!
@RJlady1 (144)
• United States
12 Jul 11
I am a freelancer, so I don't have to worry about that. I don't see any wisdom in adding co-workers to a Facebook friend list if you're going to complain about work there. It just doesn't make good sense, as your brother found out.
Honestly, you see all kinds of situations on Facebook. Kids griping about parents and vice versa even though they can see eachother's posts, etc. I think sometimes people just don't use their common sense.
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
16 Jul 11
Maybe they still don't know how to protect themselves yet. lol
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
22 Jul 11
Hi Porkchopchop, You are right, its mostly unsafe to add colleagues especially those who are not so close and always a headache for us at office. I always take time to consider and add people on the friends list. Its never advicable to add colleagues.
@chiwasaki (4694)
• Philippines
13 Sep 11
My boss and my co workers are in my Facebook account. They are my Facebook friends and I'm not bothered by it. Probably because I don't posts status regarding my work or I don't complain about my work in Facebook. One of our managers caught a worker who is posting hateful stuffs in Facebook about the company. I'm not sure what happened to that person though.
@XxshubhamxX (115)
• India
11 Jul 11
i feel sorry for ur bro..bt not all people are lyk this ..and facebook is all about social networking...which is incomplete widout the colleagues.they are the ones who's gonna help us in bad tyms nad njoy wod us in d good tyms..u just cant neglect them..ur brothes may hv met wid my one of the good guys bt u cant say dat ol of dem are lyk dat.
@Porkchopchop (324)
• Hong Kong
12 Jul 11
Yes, I agree that it is strange not to add the colleagues in facebook. And good colleagues really can help us when we are in trouble.
But maybe my brother is unlucky, some of his colleagues are bad, And you know sometimes it can be very difficult to distinguish which one is good and which one is bad. People always wear persona... And one more thing is, it is embarrassed to choose some of the colleagues and add them in your facebook. I cannot think of any excuse to explain to those who I don't accept their friend requests. It seems to start fire with them without any reason. So maybe the best way is not to add them all unless you really find out they are your good friends!
