How should a company treat its employee whose nude pictures have been leaked? Of recent Ugandan media is a washed with the debate of whether companies should fire their employees over leaked nude pictures and videos or not. In the last two years, the Ugandan public has witnessed an increase in leaked sextapes and nude pictures that have gone viral. Though celebrities have ranked highly on the list of victims, university students have not been spared. Today the list of dissemination channels of such content has grown to add social media platforms of Facebook and whatsapp.Online content can never be erased.
A damaged organisation reputation may bring up legal concerns, regulation penalties and disrupt general business operations. Companies invest a lot in reputation building and management. Some develop pre-employment contracts on reputation protection. In some organisations there is even a budget to cater for presentable employee dress code. There are those Companies that dictate a specific presentable employee dress codes or types of car to drive especially to the field. The last time I checked, anything can be a crisis on social media including a reckless company driver.
The notion that an employee's nude pictures disrupt company operations should be taken with a pinch of salt. Leaked nude pictures and videos can affect the reputation of a brand reputation positively or negatively. The response to a crisis of staff leaked pictures must be addressed on a case by case basis. Reaction of an organisation should be informed on the available information at the time. Sacking an employee may prolong the crisis and leave a lasting company reputation damage. Companies do not need to overreact but study the situation to get their facts right. We are in world of advanced technology that can be used to malice others. Are you sure the pictures are authentic? A universal approach may be disastrous to the organisation reputation than the staff involved. You are not likely to act the same way when police and local authorities have picked interest in the matter. As company you must be seen to cooperate with authorities than distancing yourself by sacking the staff.
Sacking is justified in some cases but it should be a last resort. Sometimes a statement from company can calm the crisis. We are living in a world that enjoys a blame game and as such companies must be seen to take some form of action against an employee. So why lose a talented employee over a non-issue yet you can send them on forced leave, ask them to do a public apology, suspension as you buy time for the crisis to end. Social critics want to witness someone taking responsibility but it should not come at a cost of your best employee. We all make mistakes.UCU did not expel students in the sextape but counselled them and condemned the act. Their reputation as a Christian institution was not in question after forgiving them .That was being a brother's keeper.
Leaked nude pictures and sextapes crises come with a valued resource of enormous media attention which you should not just throw away as a company. This is a free advertising opportunity. Companies can use the crisis as a publicity stunt to launch new products and services. Nude pictures have helped boost some music careers of people.
The Employer maybe within their right to fire an employee who goes against their interests but how it is done may cause problems. Handling of the sacking process is important. Should a company be seen by public to have abandoned staff at a trying time? Do you fire an employee on phone, text or in their absence? What if that inspires concerned staff to commit suicide? Would it not have been better to offer them counselling services or delay the sacking till they recover? A disgruntled employee is worse than a company competitor. This fired person may ruin the company reputation as a way of getting back.
Ignoring the crisis sometimes works just fine. Many organisations simply do not need to do anything and crises come to pass. Sacking could give the crisis unnecessary attention. It is always David(staff) against Goliath (big brand). Pressure groups, labour unions and activists may start petitions against your brand. The sacked staff can play the victim card to win sympathy from the court of public opinion. This may translate into a boycott of your brand. Is the company willing to face that?
Organisation management must involve HR, PR and legal departments as they handle staff leaked nude pictures and video crises involving. Companies must critically think through their reaction strategy. Decision to sack must be guided by the nature of the brand the employee works for. What message would a medical officer, teacher or kids programme host is send out with their nude pictures if they work with known family brands in health, Media, education, and religious foundations? How do you leave a married staff member appearing in sextape not with her husband to continue hosting a wedding show? It is if your company is endorsing adultery on a marriage show.Public relations helps create maintain and protect the organization's reputation. Studies have shown that consumers often base their purchase decisions on a company's reputation, so public relations can have a definite impact on sales and revenue
Ivan N Baliboola.
PR & Organisational diagnosis specialist
No comments:
Post a Comment