Coworkers vs Facebook "friends"

Am curious to know what your thoughts are on becoming FB friends with your coworkers?

Orig Anon here:

I should have added: this topic came up, as I recently got a friend request from someone that works in our HR Department. Am I damned if I accept? Am I damned if I decline?

i have very few coworkers that i am Facebook friends with, none in my direct report hierarchy. I would never include anyone from HR in any social media "friend" request, not FB, instagram, linkedin, or anything else.

Typically, I've always avoided it myself. That said, you should check your employee handbook to see what it says. If someone in HR is requesting it, there could be a provision in your handbook related to your social media activity that may help you decide whether to accept the request or just let it sit.

If someone asks me or tells me - hey I sent you an invite, I just tell them - oh - I have not looked at my facebook in years and leave it at that.

Ugh, orig Anon here:

Sorry for the disastrous thread title, LOL. Fat fingers this morning!

Should be, of course, Coworkers VS Facebook "friends"

I would absolutely never do such a thing. I will add old coworkers but never existing coworkers. It got me in trouble once just simply telling my friends I got promoted. Since then, strict no coworkers policy. I would just ignore it and do what Randy said.... if they reach out to you internally, just say, I never go on Facebook anymore, sorry, I lost my login information. Make sure your profile is set to entirely private for non friends.

Ditto!!

I keep my LinkedIn and other social media entirely separate. I will have LinkedIn connections that are current coworkers, but never current coworkers on any other social media.

Same - there may be a time where you might have to play judge and jury (evaluate) or be evaluated by HR. There is NO reason for what you say socially to end up in your personnel file. HR works for the protection of the company, not the employees.

I have a few co-workers as friends on FB (typically I would call even with me job/pay-wise). I don't have anything work related posted on social media (employer, job etc)

I cannot imagine any good coming of accepting a friend request from a co-worker, especially someone in HR.

Personal policy is not to be friends w/ co-worker on FB. Full-stop.

We have magic here that allows us to fix such things.

It tis magic; thank you sir!

There is a “Magic Johnson” in basketball, and a “Magic John” in BOL.

Another anon: My plan would be

a) Immediately review all FB privacy settings. In the past they have repeatedly altered default settings such that things you thought were private were public. They also have tricky settings like "Let friends of friends" see my photos/posts, etc. So your HR buddy may already be looking at what you post.

b) Ignore the FB "friend" request. Don't hit "Decline" or anything; just leave it hanging, forever. Treat it like a "Can HR monitor your private life?" request.

c) If that person were to ask me about it at work, I'd say: Oh, I'd be happy to be your FB friend, once you or I retire. Till then it is my policy not to be "FB Friends" with my HR department. I don't do things online that would get me in trouble, but I also don't want to voluntarily submit to monitoring. If this is unacceptable to the bank, please email me the policy on that.

d) If they pressed forward insisting that I allow it, I'd respond by deleting my FB account.

100%

As others have posted I keep my LinkedIn separate from other social media. I just politely ask they choose the social media that I prefer and that has always worked. After a few years with a few co workers we did become friends on other social medias but that is case by case and usually after a lot of trust is present.

My SIL is in HR. She says what others have echoed. They are not looking to be your friends (for the most part) they are more than likely adding you to a watch list. No good.