POSTING pictures on Facebook of drunken staff members at the company’s Christmas party may seem like a good seasonal joke.

But the repercussions for local businesses could be serious, and the same is true of unwise or critical posts to social media anytime.

Now, Bolton-based technology provider Eventura is helping tackle the problem of the dark side of social media at work by supporting customers to develop a social media acceptable usage policy.

This not only acknowledges the importance of social media tools in business today but outlines employees’ responsibilities to the company.

The policies typically include the importance of not infringing copyright rules, not using obscenities or insults or other unacceptable conduct and avoiding publishing personal contact details.

They outline what is acceptable to publish, and what is not, stating: “The golden rule – ask yourself if what you are about to post could cause offence to anyone. If the answer is yes, or you are not sure, then do not make the post.”

The policies are put together by the company’s technical director Paul Birbeck, HR consultant Niel Cope and the customer, both as an added service for clients and as a stand-alone product.

“Just like when a new employee starts and you go through the rules of what is and is not acceptable, there needs to be a policy in place for the use of social media at work,” explained Mr Birbeck. “If the rules are defined, everyone then knows what is acceptable.”

Such policies also reflect the way technology has improved with increased use of portable devices, leading to many employees wanting to bring in their own phones, iPads and laptops to work.

“The danger then may be what data is downloaded, for whatever reason. It’s as much about what comes into work as what information gets taken back out,” added Mr Birbeck, pointing out that clients’ details and sensitive information could then be at risk. “There is also the matter of protecting intellectual properties.

“We’re finding that our clients appreciate this straightforward approach with a policy that makes the situation clearer for staff and makes working practices more secure.”

“There is a need for transparency on both sides,” emphasised Niel Cope. “So having a policy like this is sensible all round. Social media is part of people’s lives today and the lines are blurred between private life and work.

“But what someone might post privately and in business are very different and it’s important to be aware of the damage even a casual remark can cause. Laying down lines through a policy offers boundaries, which means that everyone knows that there could be repercussions if you cross those boundaries.”