How to write about your job on the internet (without getting sacked)

Many of our subscribers have contributed information and stories to the weekly newswire. We're happy to continue this, but it would be nice if they felt more free to contribute directly. However, a lot of people are unsure about speaking openly. It seemed sensible to put together a primer on the topic, whether you're posting here or elsewhere.

Why post?
It's a great way of getting your questions answered and sharing information. Blogs and online discussions are read by more people than the occasional DWP press release can hope to reach. Peter Hayne's resignation followed a scandal uncovered by a blogger, and the recent Carter & Carter problems were followed in detail by the company's staff and investors on http://www.iii.co.uk/. If you post a question on this site, hundreds of specialists from across the welfare-to-work spectrum will read it, and the chances are that at least one of them will have just the right information or advice.

Is it free?
Yup. You need to be a registered user, but that's free, and we only do it to stop the site being flooded with spam. We might introduce some paid services later, but the discussion forums, newswire and knowledge base will all remain free.

What can I post?

  • Questions - Do you want to know how to deal with a particularly truculent customer? Or what 'the impact of the environmental policy on the project design' means in English? Or who's good at delivering to people with drug and alcohol problems? Then ask!
  • Answers - If you see a question and know something, don't be shy.
  • News, gossip and opinions - The informal network sometimes takes weeks to reach the far corners of the industry. Shortcut the whole thing and tell everyone at once.

What can't I post?

  • Libels - Libel laws may apply if you post negative comments about an identifiable person. Companies can also claim similar protections about damaging, unfounded allegations. Letting everyone know that a company has gone bankrupt is fine if you're certain it's gone bankrupt. Telling everyone it's about to fall over sideways could land you in a certain amount of trouble, especially if it then stays upright and goes to court.
  • Confidential information - Sharing experiences and knowledge in a general way are fine ('We've had problems getting people with mental health issues into work, but in-work support seems to help'). Giving away major organisational secrets or criticising your organisation by name could be career-limiting ('I work in the Birmingham office of Anyco and it's a total dump'). Whistleblowing is protected by law if there's good enough cause.

How do I not get sacked?

  • If you're open about who you are online, then be open about it with your employer as well. Don't post content that your employer wouldn't be happy with, and make them aware of the benefits of increased presence and reputation that can come with contributing to the public discourse on welfare-to-work.
  • If you're not open about who you are and want to post on controversial topics, then don't make it possible to identify yourself or the people you're talking about. Anyone can see your username - make sure you don't use it elsewhere on the internet. We won't tell anyone your e-mail address unless the law forces us to.
  • Don't post a video of yourself running around a football pitch if you're in receipt of mobility allowance.

What happens if something bad and wrong does get posted?

  • Forum discussions and user comments have a 'report this page' link that logged-in users can use to alert website staff of inappropriate content.
  • If something's reported, or if we spot it ourselves, we'll look at it and decide whether it should be left on the site or not. If it's offensive, illegal, or otherwise not good, then we'll take it down and send the author a warning. Repeated posting of wrongness may lead to the user in question being banned.
  • If you change your mind about a post you've made, get in touch with us and we'll delete it for you.

Who owns what I write?
You do. The formal terms and conditions provide greater detail on this, but essentially, anything you contribute is yours, but by contributing it you grant Indus Delta the right to publish your contribution in whatever way suits us. If you contribute to the wiki then your contribution is copylefted, allowing anyone to reproduce it with attribution.

Resources for civil servants
Many civil servants already blog openly, and contribute to internet debates and discussions. This posting quickly and elegantly outlines why they should.

The civil service has published official guidance for civil servants, available at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/social_media/participation.asp

There's also: