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Home / Business

How not to get fired for your internet history and other workplace misdemeanours

Cara McGoogan
Daily Telegraph UK·
1 Dec, 2017 11:15 PM5 mins to read

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Donald Trump's visit to the UK was cancelled after he retweeted a Britain First video. Photo / AP

Donald Trump's visit to the UK was cancelled after he retweeted a Britain First video. Photo / AP

It appears that not everyone got the manual when it comes to professional computer etiquette.

Furious re-tweeter Donald Trump and Damian Green, the de facto UK deputy prime minister, among others, have landed in hot water in recent weeks over alleged inappropriate online behaviour at work.

Accessing pornography on a work computer? If it happened, Damian, not OK.

Reposting videos made by pound-shop fascists from your work Twitter account? Not cool, Donald.

Most companies now cover internet browsing and social media in their staff policies.

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But, it would appear, some employees - which goes for elected officials, too - need a reminder of the guidelines.

To help make it a bit easier, the Telegraph covers a quick guide to computer etiquette for anyone who is a bit confused about the dos and don'ts when it comes to using, not misusing, office equipment.

1) Don't watch porn at work

This may seem obvious, but it's worth repeating in light of the allegations against Green.

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Unless you work in the porn or regulation industry, there is no reason to access NSFW (not safe for work) material in the office.

If that's not disincentive enough, imagine a printout of your browser history being passed around a courtroom. Not quite so in the mood now, are we?

In addition, it is advised that you don't watch or download porn onto a work laptop, even in the comfort of your own home.

You never know when a Scotland Yard detective might coming knocking.

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2) Don't be an email creep

Sexual harassment in the workplace includes sending inappropriate electronic communications - or "sliding into someone's DMs", as it's called.

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Urban Dictionary defines this malpractice as "[starting] a direct message chain on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hopes of acquiring booty", but colleagues may also attempt to slide via work email.

This is ill-advised.

If the Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo scandals have taught us anything, it is that everything comes out in the wash eventually, especially in the digital age, when there's an email trail.

If your advances aren't wanted, put them where they belong: in the bin.

3) Be responsible on social media

Journalists are often advised to caveat their personal social media accounts with a disclaimer that they are a real person and not just a mouthpiece for their organisation.

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This could apply to people of all professions, including the US presidency.

At the time of writing, Trump's Twitter bio reads "45th President of the United States of America".

To this, it might be wise to add: "This is my personal Twitter account and the views expressed are my own, not those of my country."

This step would help the world take umbrage against Trump as an individual, rather than the United States and its government in general.

At some point, Trump will no longer be president, and it would be nice for everyone if the institution's reputation wasn't destroyed forever.

4) Be responsible on social media.2

In employee handbooks, a common feature is guidance on what you should and shouldn't share on social media.

Such advice could include: don't tweet, post, share, like or retweet anything that is illegal, offensive, inflammatory or likely to bring the company into disrepute.

For example, don't retweet videos shared by a racist organisation without adding context (such as "This in an unhealthy incitement of hatred against Muslim people").

Otherwise, it will look to the world - and certainly your 45 million Twitter followers - as an actual endorsement.

And avoid public slanders such as: "@Theresa_May, don't focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom.

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We are doing just fine!"

Retweeting something like the following, on the other hand, is fine.

5) Avoid excessive use of social media at work

Excessive use of social media hampers an employee's productivity and interferes with their professional duties.

Having a "working visit" to the UK cancelled because of a retweet? I'd count that as "interfering with professional duties".

A social media ban could save Trump some embarrassment, and make him a more productive president.

Even a "once an hour for five minutes" rule would help - and give the rest of us a welcome break.

6) If in doubt, delete it

A wise lion once taught us that it's never too late to right the wrongs of the past.

It turns out YouTube stars Jack Maynard and Zoella should have been concentrating when they watched The Lion King.

If they had, Maynard might have deleted years'-old tweets that got him kicked off I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - choice comments such as: "If you get me to 150,000 followers by tomorrow, I will kiss you... Most likely rape you though."

And Zoella could have avoided the awkwardness of people discovering a 2010 tweet that said: "I find it funny when gay men spit... it's like they're trying to be a bit macho but never works."

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Putting the past behind you doesn't work if said past is on the internet and plainly visible to the entire online world.

We have all done things we regret - especially in the accelerated hyperreality of social media.

When it comes to dodgy Twitter and Facebook posts, do the right thing and delete, delete, delete.

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