Comments on: The Time I was Written Up for Blogging

By: Don’t Overreact to Your Social Media Mistakes

Don’t Overreact to Your Social Media Mistakes — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:01:51 +0000

[...] Over the years we read about (seemingly) huge blowups that happen to other people and companies and it’s easy to talk about what they should have done differently. And then it happens to you. These fire drills are emotionally consuming and extremely stressful. No one wants to be “that guy.” I know because I’ve been that guy and was even written up for it. [...]

By: Social Media: Policy Formation & Risk Management | Compliance Building

Social Media: Policy Formation & Risk Management | Compliance Building — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:28:36 +0000

[...] The Time I Was Written Up for Blogging [...]

By: @steveplunkett

@steveplunkett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:09:34 +0000

Well it was 2004… the insurance industry wasn't sure how to deal with blogs.

By: tacanderson

tacanderson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:57:16 +0000

Thanks Steve, that has to be the most ridiculous example I've ever heard. Wow. Companies (especially insurance companies) do the stupidest things because of the fear of loss of money.

By: @steveplunkett

@steveplunkett — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:35:34 +0000

I know a person at a company who started a blog for that company, then found out the corporate insurance was cancelled due to liability issues that the insurance company had instituted for blogs, etc.. once the proper addendum to insurance was made, policy was re-instated.

By: tacanderson

tacanderson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:33:36 +0000

Thanks John. I admit that I still don't think it was that big of a deal but I've learned that large corporations sometimes have to be very black and white about some issues. If it was something that became a real problem I always had the choice to leave.

But yes, if companies provide context and intent behind their explanations I think they'd see a much greater level of adherence both on explicit and vague applications of the rules.

By: John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises)

John E. Bredehoft (Empoprises) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:27:56 +0000

While I guess the rationale for your being written up makes sense, the whole “quiet period” thing is admittedly baffling to me. I have worked for a small public company which was eventually taken over by a Fortune 500 company, and while I really worried about quiet periods when we were small, they became a non-issue when we became part of the Fortune 500 company (our business was a very very small part of that company, which was primarily known for a completely different product line). I'll grant that HP's printer group is a significant business, but it's still a little mystifying.

That, of course, doesn't negate your basic point that companies should explain their rationale for things, rather than just saying “no.” And, at this point, that's all that I'm going to say about THAT.