Blogging

“Blogs (web log) have changed from people writing about their lives to focusing on specific topics that can turn personal when desired, but are intended to be more informative or gossipy than introspective or cathartic. The fact that nearly every major news outlet devotes a section of its website to the blogs of people inside and outside the organization is evidence of their functionality and significance. Many companies have remained blog-friendly to personal blogs despite the potential for disaster they wield. Blogs can foster interoffice communication and can be a highly effective, inexpensive means of mass marketing. On the other hand, any employee with a computer can be easily distracted from work by posting personal opinions or reading blogs during company time. As a result, productivity and performance can suffer. The potential for trouble significantly increases when your office blogger, on or off the clock, starts posting content on the Web.
If your company implements a workplace blogging policy, you should consider the following:
Limit blogging that interferes with work commitments, or prohibit blogging during work time.
Prohibit employees from disclosing any information that's confidential or proprietary to the company or any third party that has disclosed information to the company, including concepts or developments that the employees produce related to the company's business. Refer employees to your company’s policy for guidance on what constitutes confidential information.
Inform employees that the company may request that they temporarily confine their website or blog commentary to topics unrelated to the company if you believe that it's advisable or necessary to comply with securities regulations or other laws.
Caution employees that a breach of the blogging policy could result in discipline up to and including termination. “