Recently I was asked “What do I do when my boss asks me to be friends with me on Facebook…and I don’t want to?”
Tough question that’s bound to come up more and more frequently as Facebook closes in on 400 million users. You could insert your parents, your ex-wife, your crazy Uncle Ned, whomever that you don’t want to be friends with on Facebook.
First, I’d ask yourself why you don’t want to be friends with your boss. If it’s because you don’t want your boss to see what you do on Facebook, my best advice is simple: If you don’t want people to see you doing dumb stuff, don’t do dumb stuff!
OK, so for some, it’s too late. The dumb stuff is already out there, and you really don’t want your boss to see it.
Or maybe you just don’t like your boss.
Or maybe it’s some other reason altogether.
What do you do when your boss asks you to “be friends” on Facebook and you don’t want to be friends?
Double check your privacy settings – Make sure friends of friends can’t see anything on your profile, especially pictures. This is where many folks are most embarrassed to show their boss. Make sure your wall is secure, and, if you’re really paranoid, make sure only your friends can send you a message via Facebook.
Look to see who your friends in common are – Does your boss have many work friends, is she just getting started on Facebook and doesn’t know who else to friend or are you just part of an extended network of folks that your boss things it’s polite to ask. It’s good to know who your friends are
Just say no – Be polite and let your boss know you don’t want to cross the manager/employee line, and that you’d like to respect her space and not be her Facebook friend.
Be consistent – If your boss’s boss asks you to be his friend on Facebook, you need to be consistent and say no to him too.
Bonus tip for Managers and Supervisors
Avoid this uncomfortable situation altogether by not friending anyone who is in your direct reporting structure.
What’s your advice for someone in this difficult predicament?
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