Does your Employee Handbook address social media?
Prudent employers have known, for many years, the importance of Employee Handbooks in setting forth a company’s policies and operational procedures. However, the recent increase in the popularity of social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogs and the like – has taken many employers, and their Handbooks, by surprise.
Policies governing mobile phones, computers, Internet access and e-mail no longer suffice. With social media, every employee – for better or for worse, intentionally or unintentionally – can become a spokesperson for the company.
Tweet Leads to $50,000 Defamation Suit
An unhappy tenant wrote the following tweet about her landlord: “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s okay.”
The landlord learned about the tweet and, in response, filed a $50,000 lawsuit stating that the tenant maliciously and wrongfully defamed the landlord.
More details on Avvo.
The moral: When using social media, be very careful about what you write about any company or person. If you would be reluctant to make the statement to its/his/her face, think twice before you post it.
This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
