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My company wants to take over my LinkedIn profile
Recently, one of the managers at my small company made a post about reviewing each other's LinkedIn profiles to make suggestions on how to market them better to their target audiences - the company's target audience. I have heard of this being done, but I feel this is overstepping the personal boundaries of my profile. I am an individual with my own goals outside of the company and have every intention of building my own brand - not the company's. They have even recently made my whole team take turns as admin for the company so we could each send out invites to grow the company's following. Is this normal? Am I being a baby about it?
Kay
Client-centric, with comprehensive experience
35
09/02/20 at 10:19PM UTC
You are not being a baby about it. I too was recently asked to link my linkedIn profile to the company's newly established page. I have not done so. I think the suggestion earlier of creating a second account is the best solution for now. I do think LinkedIn should offer a solution. A company should be able to list a simple stagnant profile of the employees for the present position and not have access to our past or current links. That should remain separate. You as an individual earned the rights to the previous connections we have and should not have to bring them along to current company promotions or postings. In my case, my past industry has nothing to do with the present so it really doesn't serve any purpose to connect them. Good luck, but I suggest the 2nd account.
Francesca Vanderwall
610
08/27/20 at 9:46PM UTC
So...I had a choice when I signed on with my firm. Sign up for the social media program (but turn over my LinkedIn profile) or keep it for myself (but never be able to post business content.)
I work in a HIGHLY REGULATED INDUSTRY for a super conservative company. Ultimately the ends justified the means. I'd work toward finding a balance between their wants and your needs.
Jessica K.Marketer. Powered by sports, wine & fashion.
500
08/13/20 at 7:57PM UTC
Agree with many others that this should not, in any way, be a requirement. Your LinkedIn profile and other social media platforms are your own personal brand. If they wanted to create a work-only profile and have you represent the company that way, then that's different. I work at a sports team and know that our Guest Services team created new Facebook profiles so engage with Season Ticket Holders on the private Facebook group.
IMO they can share best practices and ask that you repost content they put out, but this should be only if you feel comfortable doing so.
Sandra PlacideBusiness Continuity Analyst
58
08/13/20 at 7:35PM UTC
Overall: Your company needs to have their own Linkedin Page and create the content for employees to post.
If you choose to leave the company at some point, the company might actually say your Linkedin profile belongs to them is a sales generator and part of their marketing plan.
Requiring you all to learn how to be the admin is asking for FREE social media support. They should hire a person internally or contract a company to do it for them.
Read this great article:
https://nealschaffer.com/linkedin-account-ownership-employer-own/
Fiona McLaughlinBusiness Growth | Personal Development
96
08/12/20 at 3:59PM UTC
So, it's a grey area. As an employee of the company, if you are using LinkedIn to develop a network that will help you achieve your work goals (and especially if the employer is paying for your LinkedIn), then yes, your employer does have a right to be interested in what you are posting, and from their perspective it's also a good idea to support employees in learning from each other in relation to best practice towards building out their networks. Employers can also make suggestions or recommendations about what you as employee might like to post. But the ultimate curation of your feed is your responsibility and choice. And a well-curated LinkedIn profile (including relevant content and recommendations) is a great resume for your next role :) Personally I think it's a great idea that each employee gets an opportunity to be admin for the corporate LinkedIn profile as it better informs the company in relation to what will be relevant for employees to promote to clients and potential clients. But the only LinkedIn feed your employer should have complete control over (or Twitter, or Insta, or whatever) is their own.
M Elizabeth IngramHR, administration, & benefits at work; mom of 2
731
08/12/20 at 12:33PM UTC
I worked at a financial firm several years ago where they had the compliance department check every LinkedIn profile for compliance reasons. But my understanding was that it was primarily to keep both the advisors & company from being sued for inappropriate use of specific financial terms, titles, & certifications.
Allix StewartHuman Rights Graduate Student & Resume Developer
193
08/12/20 at 4:19AM UTC
I have not heard of this being done and it seems very much like the company is overstepping their boundaries. Your LinkedIn is a career advancement and networking tool for YOU, not for them to utilize for their own gains. I would set strong boundaries here if you can - that may not be possible, but I would say you are not overreacting here.
Anne KnoxCMP
322
08/12/20 at 12:27AM UTC
This feels icky, but it is not illegal. Ask a Manager covered a question about a company requiring changes to social media a few years ago. It isn't exactly the same situation, but I think the advice applies to you. https://www.askamanager.org/2016/03/my-company-told-me-to-change-my-linkedin-information-interrupting-coworker-and-more.html
Farah BajwaManager | Mentor | Consultant | Coach
338
08/11/20 at 11:56PM UTC
To echo most everyone here, I've never heard of this being done and your LinkedIn is YOUR personal brand, not theirs. Of course you can accept recommendations from your company but they should have no power of YOUR professional network. If leadership is trying to strong arm control, is this something you can discuss with HR?
Cassandra Stelter
113
08/11/20 at 10:15PM UTC
I agree with the general tenor. Unless you're on a company account, you don't owe the company loyalty in your personal social media profile. That being said- unfortunately, many employers are taking private accounts into consideration for hiring, disciplinary action, or firing if they can argue that the personal social media account damages the reputation of the organization. There's nothing wrong with sharing aspects of your company's social media kit that you support and are comfortable with- if you can't find anything to 'like' or 'share' maybe that's a sign to evaluate if this company aligns with who and what you are. Try setting positive boundaries, instead of combative ones, first and if that doesn't work, it may be time to move on.
As an aside: LinkedIn should ALWAYS be just professional. That's not the place for memes, op-eds not directly related to neutral business practice directly related to your field, or anything else. Imagine LinkedIn as a dynamic, public-domain resume. If you would't put it in a job application, don't put it on LinkedIn.
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