Here I was thinking I am reasonably up with the play in social media and social networking spheres, so I was mildly surprised to learn a new word, or neologism, today: frolleague.

Apparently there is nothing new about the word though, as the Oxford English Dictionary has been considering its inclusion for sometime.

As to frolleagues however, they are to be avoided at all costs, according to LinkedIn…

LinkedIn claimed 47% of the UK’s web users are mixing their social and professional lives by accepting networking invitations from “frolleagues” - colleagues who send friendship requests. The social media company added that the “frolleagues” scenario is becoming so common that the Oxford English Dictionary is considering adding the term. LinkedIn, which claims 1 million registered users in the UK, recommends that users keep a separate account for socialising so that business contacts don’t mix with friends, and should only add a colleague if they know them socially outside work.