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A work in progress... Pittsburgh based (defacto) grocery monopoly Giant Eagle is attempting to restrict what it's *union* employees both state and show (ie photographs, logos, etc...) on all forms of social media even while off the clock. A person representing the interests of Giant Eagle stated at a recent meeting that the company maintains routine surveillance of it's employees even while not on the clock.

I have a problem with people using facebook and twitter on the job simply because that's not what they're being paid to do. It doesn't matter if you're on your smart phone or the computer; you're not working. That might account for my sugar-free apple pie being made with peaches, or a hamburger missing the meat....some people are more focused on social media sites than their jobs.

I work in IT and am currently posting this with a company computer, fully cognizant of the fact that my employer can see what I am posting.

Having spent a few years in the corporate world and worked with Human Resources on a number of investigations into employee conduct, I can tell you that companies do not like firing people unless they have a good reason - with a few notable exceptions. (You know who you are!)

I dare say there are almost no situations where someone was the MODEL employee, but then got fired for posting a drunk pic of themselves on Facebook. Usually, the habits and attitudes that led to them doing something so irresponsible to begin with will spill over into their job performance. For example, if Joe hates the company and hates his job, he has probably been showing up late, slacking, shooting his mouth off to the boss, and otherwise letting the company know that he was not happy in the business relationship. So, when he posted on Twitter that his company sucks, it was naturally time to end the relationship. Or, if young Suzy spends her weekends bar hopping, getting blind drunk, and dancing on the table, this irresponsibility probably spills over into the workplace as well - like that ill advised fling with the guy from the mailroom or the eendless hours she spends gossiping about her exploits with coworkers.

As far as my post on this web site with company equipment on company time - its a slow morning. Otherwise, my work gets done in a quality and professional manner.