Employment Law Explained

Tag Archives: social media policies

Why Should Employers have a Social Media Policy?

Posted on 28/07/2011 by Michael Scutt • 1 Comment

social networking broken icons by demeters d3712v9 1 Why Should Employers have a Social Media Policy? social media internet usage employment policies bullying harassment

[This is the follow up piece to my article "Social Media in the Workplace" published on this blog last Saturday and, originally, in The Internet Newsletter for Lawyers/Law 2.0]

In my last article I wrote about the potential threats that face employers from the use by employees of social media and recommended that businesses have a social media policy.

To recap, the main threats to an employer from misuse of social media are;

  1. Reputational damage
  2. Breach of confidentiality
  3. Time wasting
  4. Liability to third parties
  5. Liability to other employees and to prospective employees.

This is a preview of Why Should Employers have a Social Media Policy?. Read the full post (1579 words, 3 images, estimated 6:19 mins reading time)
Filed Under: Bullying & Harassment, Employment Policies, Internet Usage, social media

Jobsworth on TV

Posted on 12/04/2011 by Michael Scutt • 1 Comment

Recently I was interviewed on Legal Network TV (part of the College of Law’s Multimedia Unit), for their guide on social media in the workplace. The programme is aimed at law firms and is split into two parts. For more details please click here.

The first part of the programme is covered by Christopher Sherliker of Silverman Sherliker solicitors (and of @London_Law_Firm fame) where he discusses why solicitors should use social media and the second part is on the issues that employers face from social media usage in and around the workplace. That’s my bit.

This is a preview of Jobsworth on TV. Read the full post (123 words, estimated 30 secs reading time)
Filed Under: social media

Misuse of Social Media Won’t Always be Grounds for Summary Dismissal

Posted on 27/03/2011 by Michael Scutt • 5 Comments
4561v1 max 450x450 Misuse of Social Media Won’t Always be Grounds for Summary Dismissal social media

Image via CrunchBase

I’ve written on many occasions before about how employers need to have a usage policy for social media to guide employees on what is and is not acceptable use of Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc. As the recent (unreported) case of Stephens v Halfords PLC has shown, merely having a policy is not a magic panacea in itself.  Employers must act reasonably in enforcing that policy.

Halfords apparently has a social media usage policy which prohibits employees making any comments on social media platforms that were not in the best interests of the company or that encouraged dissent. That seems rather oppressive, if correctly stated but that’s another issue.

This is a preview of Misuse of Social Media Won’t Always be Grounds for Summary Dismissal. Read the full post (459 words, 3 images, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)
Filed Under: social media

Facebook “Joke” Turned Sour: Why Employers Need To Take Note

Posted on 30/07/2010 by Michael Scutt • 3 Comments

facebookjuly3images Facebook “Joke” Turned Sour: Why Employers Need To Take Note social media

The Metro newspaper reported on Wednesday how a student won £10,000 in damages from a former friend.  Raymond Bryce, a law student, failed to see the funny side of chef Jeremiah Barber’s post of a paedophiliac picture on his Facebook page with the words “ Ray, you like kids and you are gay so  bet you love this picture, Ha Ha”.  Bryce sued Barber in the High Court for libel and won damages.  Barber ended up with a large money Judgment against him, a conviction for circulating indecent images of children and 150 hours’ community service. This is yet another illustration of how some people seem to take leave of their senses when using social media.   What a thing to “joke” about!

This is a preview of Facebook “Joke” Turned Sour: Why Employers Need To Take Note. Read the full post (851 words, 3 images, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)
Filed Under: social media

40% of UK Employees Criticise Their Bosses on Facebook and Twitter

Posted on 22/05/2010 by Michael Scutt • 7 Comments

myjobgroupflatlogo1 40% of UK Employees Criticise Their Bosses on Facebook and Twitter social media According to a survey by the recruitment agency MyJobGroup.co.uk, compiled in conjunction with law firm Irwin Mitchell, 40% of UK employees admit to criticising their employers on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Furthermore most staff had little or no idea of the legal implications of what they wrote online.  Click here for the press release.

The report contains some surprisingly large numbers, for instance;

  • 20% of employees admit to “lambasting” their employers online
  • 53% would support disciplinary action against fellow employees sticking the online boot into the workplace

This is a preview of 40% of UK Employees Criticise Their Bosses on Facebook and Twitter. Read the full post (262 words, 1 image, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)
Filed Under: social media