Should blogging be a sackable offence?

4 November 2008

1 minute read

US banks aren't exactly known for a glasnost-style approach to employees who talk openly to the press. But when it comes to blogging they err even more on the side of despotism than usual.

Back in August, Citigroup identified and eliminated Michael McCarthy. McCarthy was a trader at the bank who also happened to run Take A Report, a blog featuring women in states of near undress, but which makes no reference to his employer, redundancies or Vikram Pandit.

A month or so later, 1-2 Knockout, an anonymous US blogger writing for an equally anonymous US bank, was allegedly sacked following the revelation that he was writing something which was not a research report.

And Goldman is said to have banned all its employees from using chat rooms or visiting blogs whilst at work.

Is this fair? We think not. Feel free to agree wholeheartedly (or not) below.

AUTHOReFinancialCareers UK

Insider Comment

Fr
Fren
18 November 2008
Blogging after office hours is really non of the bank's business!! Bogging is a way to vent frustrations....
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Jo
Joe 90
6 November 2008
Banks stopping employees accessing the internet? Sounds like China!
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Mr
Mr Flash
5 November 2008
I write a blog and consider it an important part of my freedom of speech. I would be truly mortified if my employer were to unearth my identity, however.
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Th
The final say
4 November 2008
In this environment banks need to be incredibly careful about how disaffected employees portray them in the media. One can hardly blame banks for being cautious. The same employees who are being asked to restrict what they say in public have been handsomely remunerated for a long time. They can hardly complain.
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