What are the current updates for social media policies?

Social media in the workplace has, increasingly, become a problem for employers. Due to social media’s constant growth, more and more employees are using their social media platforms to speak out on issues they have with their employers and co-workers. Understandably, employers want to limit these negative statements to prevent harming the company’s reputation or employee morale.

Employers may address that problem by adding a social media policy to the company’s policies and procedures. In their policies, employers should:

  1. Prohibit social media use while employees are working.
  2. Train their employees on what is and is not acceptable for employees to post related to work.
  3. Designate a person responsible for implementing the policy.
  4. Create a procedure to report policy violations.

Employers should keep in mind that the National Labor Relations Act limits how an employer can restrict employees from taking action about their work environment. That act gives employees the right to take concerted action to address wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment, which may include posting on social media when it concerns those issues.

When creating a social media policy, employers should be sure not to violate an employee’s rights but still make it clear that certain uses of social media are unacceptable.

~Karen McKeithen Schaede

This article is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. The information contained in this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between Revolution Law PLLC and the reader.