An article about blogs in workplace and their hidden dangers when workers go too far.

Well, for start I don't think the dangers of workers going too far are limited to blogs and the ones specific to blogs are not that hidden. However, it is worth noting that the weblogs as tools can be applied pretty much anywhere where information and its timeliness matters.

Web logs also are emerging as powerful workplace tools, helping workers stay on top of their professions, as well as helping organizations manage team projects.

But let's get the bad stuff out of the way first:

It's not all sweetness and light, however. Used unwisely, blogging can cost you your job. Last month, a low-level staff member in a U.S. Senate office was fired after posting "unsuitable and offensive material to an Internet Weblog." Jessica Cutler, 24, had blogged about her sexual encounters with unnamed officials.

Last fall, Microsoft contract worker Michael Hanscom was fired after he posted a photo on his blog of Apple computers being delivered to a Microsoft loading dock.

In 2002, popular Web blogger Heather Armstrong (dooce.com) reported being fired for remarks she posted about her company, even though "I had never mentioned the company or any employee by name."

And according to Rebecca Blood of San Francisco (rebeccablood.net), author of The Weblog Handbook, (Perseus, 2002) at least one person she knows was not hired for a position because "the people at the new job found out she was complaining about her present employer" on her blog.

Oh, dear. The easiest way to get bloggers to blog 'in synch' with your company is to make your company get a clue and of course, let the Big Blog Company sort out the rest...

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