Ok, we probably already know the answer to this question, right? We’ve read tons of career articles about how we should separate work relationships from our personal life. But, somehow this doesn’t always feel cut and dry and can sometimes feel downright rude. As companies move from staunch, uptight environments to collaborative cultures, it might be hard to draw the line between work and personal friendships. So what do you do, if someone at works friends you on Facebook or Instagram?

Most people’s concern with friending coworkers is that they don’t want anything they post to change how they are viewed at work. However, to be quite honest, privacy doesn’t exist anymore. No matter how secure or private you think your social media accounts are – they really aren’t. So to be fair, you shouldn’t put anything on your social media page that will ever jeopardize your role. So if reckless behavior is your main concern, we encourage you to clean up your page regardless of who you plan to friend.

So the questions still remain, is it rude to not accept a friend request from a coworker? At the end of the day, it’s your page. You don’t have to accept anyone out of obligation. It’s completely acceptable to ignore their request. To alleviate any tension, try connecting with them on a more professional platform like LinkedIn where you feel comfortable. If you do decide to add your coworker, here are some things to consider:

• Be Careful What/When You Post: If your “sick day” is being spent at the beach, be mindful of posting this to your social page if you have friends from work who follow your feed. Also, be mindful of excessive posts and activity during work hours.
• Consider a Limited Profile: If you are feeling out your coworker, but still want to add them as a friend, consider a limited profile where they only see certain posts and photos.
• Politics ain’t Pretty: Sensitive topics like religion and politics can be deal breakers for friendships, especially on social media. Be careful what you post and try not to engage if you don’t agree with someone on a subject.
• Don’t be Afraid to Unfollow: If you find your coworker offensive online, don’t feel bad about unfollowing or even unfriending them (9/10 they won’t even notice).

Any social media questions about your coworkers that we didn’t cover? Sound off below in the comments!