Do you blog at work? Oct24 '05

Consider this a Monday morning survey. Feel free to comment, if you wish.

I was curious, with all the corporate noise regarding employees personal blogs - leaking sensitive information, and just generally being unproductive - do you blog, while at work?

Some corporations have even gone as far as banning blogs entirely, from their employees internet browsing. Somehow, they have a way of detecting whether a site is a blog, or not. So, that means employees can’t leave comments on other blogs - but they could still write content for their own blog.

Writing content on my own blog, at work

I don’t see a problem with writing content, for my own blog, if it pertains to my current job duties. For example, if I am troubleshooting a certain PHP script - if I blog about it, perhaps I might receive some feedback, regarding a solution. This is a quasi-benefit, in disguise, for companies - because it allows their employees to reach out, beyond the resources available at their current location.

However, there’s a fine line there. Under no circumstances should I ever mention company or client-sensitive information. As long as I keep the focus on the "generic issue," then there shouldn’t be a problem.

Leaving comments at other blogs, at work

I also don’t see a big problem with reading other blogs, at work - especially if those blogs pertain to my current job duties. But, again, there’s a fine line there. If I comment on another blog - I must restrain from leaking company or client-sensitive information.

Some companies don’t trust their employees’ restraint, so they ban blogs from even existing in front of their employees eyes.

This is understandable, because it’s very easy to "slip," and say something you didn’t intend to. So, as a corporate "head honcho," I wouldn’t trust my employees either.

Blogging just like email, or personal conversation?

As much as I try to only blog about my current job duties, or read other blogs regarding my current job duties - every once in a while, I will make an off-topic post, or read an off-topic blog or web site.

Now... again, this is not treading in the "danger area" of company or client-sensitive information. However, it is treading in the "unproductive area."

I compare writing a personal blog post, to writing a personal email, or having a personal conversation. And everyone writes personal emails, and has personal conversations, at work - now and again, right?

So, in my mind, there is truly no difference.

But I still restrain from personal blog posts, as much as possible, simply because it could be used as an argument against productivity.

And once we get to this point, we are now merging to an entirely different topic: productivity in the work place - which is beyond the scope of this entry.

And - I already wasted 10 minutes writing this, at work.

Categories: Employment , Internet , Personal , Ponderings , Web Sites

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I try to limit reading of non-work-related blogs to lunchtime. Work-related blogs I'll read when I'm building or waiting for something. Occasional ... Read more.

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.