Colleagues and LinkedIn

Hi,

Since last April we've moved from location A to our newer and bigger location B.
Something we are all proud on and happy with.

Now as our company has a strong grow the last months we want to be as strong as possible on the online and offline channels aswell

One of these online channels is LinkedIn. When I asked one of my colleagues to update his information on his LinkedIn he gave me a rude answer:

"LinkedIn is mine, it's private and I decide what to do with it."

Somewhere he is right, but if he also states he is working at my company I expect him to provide the right location and such.

What are your opinions on this?

Thanks for your replies!

maflynn said:

He's right, though his response was rude. His profile is his, he has a right to maintain it any way he sees fit.

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I wonder if he got upset about a perceived boundary crossing by you. His social sites can be considered personal and your entrenchment into his, may have rubbed him the wrong way.

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Yes I agree, though, as a member of a team, somewhere you should think about the company more than about your own things?

As you put up information for public on the internet, especially if you are linking your LinkedIn profile with the company profile. I believe everyone within the company and whoever has the right to look at your profile.

Scepticalscribe said:

What is your relationship with him? Are you his line manager, or immediate superior? Is he obliged to report to you?

In any case, my view is that his LinkedIn account or identity is his responsibility, not yours, and that you do not have a say in what he chooses to say when describing his occupation as long as it is accurate. As I see it, he is under no obligation to use his personal account to promote your company, or to provide specific professional details online.

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Agreed. Though providing wrong information about the company is bad for the company right? My request was simply to update his old information.

mobilehaathi said:

Your employee is correct, sorry.

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Yes he is.

The main thing here is what I'm not sure about.

Where do you cross the line.
if an employee is providing wrong/bad information about the company he works.
Can this be seen as hurtful for the company too?

Tomorrow said:

My employer (the company) has a Linkedin page as well. My profile says I work there. If they update their information, it shows up on my profile. I'm not sure what's so difficult about that - I must be missing something.

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On the employee page you can add additional information about yourself.

Thanks everyone.

In the end I agree with you all. Maybe the way he replied was just wrong.
LinkedIn is not affiliated with my company and therefore any information can't be forced in any way.

rdowns said:

Seems to me it's the way the employee was asked. I'm a Marketing Manager and we just moved. I sent out an email to all employees explaining how accurate information on social media can help with our SEO and other initiatives. Asked them to update their profiles where applicable and to tweet/FB post/etc. about our move. Of course I also told them it was completely voluntary.

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Good point. I'll try to use this the next time I'll bring this up or something major changes.

Thanks again.