THE misuse of social networking sites by employees, even when away from the workplace, will be under the spotlght at a seminar later this week.

THE misuse of social networking sites by employees, even when away from the workplace, will be under the spotlght at a seminar later this week.

The importance of brand image and flexible benefit packages will also be on the agenda at the event, jointly sponsored by Cooper Lomaz Recruitment, Hansells Solicitors, and Banham Graham Chartered Accountants.

Kathryn Hirst, an employment law specialist at Hansells, will highlight the power of sites such as Facebook and Twitter and the need to handle their influence.

“How employees should conduct themselves in the workplace and/or during working hours is usually well covered by contracts of employment and office policies,” said Miss Hirst.

“But what about when someone goes home, signs on to their Facebook account and tells their friends how bored they are at work, makes a derogatory comment about their boss or describes their line manager as a flirt?

“These things can be very damaging to a business, and once they are out there, they are often quickly passed on and become very difficult to erase.”

Also speaking at the event will be Keith Robinson, formerly a director at a number of leading recruitment agencies and currently working on a project with Cooper Lomaz, who will discuss issues of brand image in the social network age, and Murray Graham, managing partner at Banham Graham, who will address the use of flexible benefits packages to attract and incentivise key staff.

The Employer Branding, Flexible Employee Incentives and Social Media Seminar takes place at The Ickworth Hotel, Horringer, on Thursday, October 7, from 8am to 10.30am, and includes a light breakfast. It is free to attend but places should be booked by calling Idal Denmar at Hansells on 01603 751927 or by email to idaldenmar@hansells.co.uk .