26 Jul Can I ask an employee to change their LinkedIn job title?
Question: Our employee is using a different job title on LinkedIn. Can I ask them to change it?
Answer: It depends. Hopefully you’ve put thought and time into crafting a title you believe reflects their position, but consider if their alternate title is something that really needs to be addressed.
An employee may choose a different title on LinkedIn if they feel theirs doesn’t accurately or meaningfully describe the work they do. Their given title might make perfect sense internally, but just isn’t as clear outside the organization. Unique and trendy titles, like “Brand Evangelist,” may be unclear or get overlooked in searches.
If their LinkedIn title makes sense and isn’t overinflated, you may not want to do anything. On the other hand, if your employee is using a title that doesn’t reflect their role or is too embellished (i.e., an accountant using the job title “CFO”), it may cause confusion, both internally and externally, about who does what in your organization.
If you do decide to reach out to the employee, we recommend a neutral approach: Be curious. Mention you saw the job title they were using and were wondering why they chose it. Listen and consider their reasons. Share that you would prefer their title on LinkedIn better reflect their title within the organization.
If inaccurate job titles are widespread, consider providing guidance to all employees on how they should list their job title on LinkedIn through a policy in your Staff Handbook. This will also establish a baseline you can refer to in the future.
Original content by HR Ministry Solutions. This information is provided with the understanding that Payroll Partners is not rendering legal, human resources, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from a lawyer, HR consultant or other professional.