Should companies hold their employees responsible for what they post on social media?

“We are the generation of Social Media; our biggest revolution is a Tweet of 140 characters.” – Sandra charmi Kassis

“New media is a term used to define all that is related to the internet and the interplay between technology, images and sound. The definition for New media changes daily and will continue to change” (http://www.newmedia.org). With all these new technologies available to us, we have access to the internet 24 hours 7 days a week. There are many platforms created on the internet for us to share information, interact with other people and to vent our frustrations as well.

Ever since Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook, social media has grown to just being a “dorm room toy to a boardroom tool”. HR departments of various companies are now using social media to connect with jobseekers. Sales departments are also using this tool to draw in clients. Social media has become a serious business tool (http://www.forbes.com).

“There is a question of productivity of employees that access Facebook and other social networking sites during office hours. Companies are concerned about the reputation of business, the employer, as well as its employees, as a result of the information published on these sites” (http://www.labourguide.co.za).

 

 

The United States of Americas National Labour Relations Act of 1993 determined that employees who use social media to criticize their employer or a co-worker are protected under the law if more than one employee participates.” National Labour Relations Act of 1993 also states that: - “Sec. 7.  Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the right to refrain from any or all such activities except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment.” (http://socialmediatoday.com)

It was reported on (http://jobsearch.about.com), that an employee of an unnamed company had been suspended and the fired for her Facebook postings because she went against the company’s internet policy. Although she had posted those negative comments about her boss on her own personal page, on personal time, the company prohibits its employees from depicting the company in any way on the internet without permission.

It is in the best interest of every company to create a Social Media Policy. Employees should also realise that following company policy is of outmost importance. I believe that as long as employees represent the company, their employer has the right to hold the employee responsible for what they post on social sites. The individual could misrepresent the company. It is important for the employee to not share confidential company information as well as industry rumours. The PR department should be incharge of handling such matters.

However, if the employee posts comments (personal views/ opinions) about matters that have nothing to do with the company, after working hours, on a person page, then it should not be any of the company’s concern.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

 

Video: fired over Facebook comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCH33TgK8Mw&feature=share&list=PL19CEC5E12963FC63

Sources Consulted

 

About.com.jobsearch. 2012. Fired for Facebook [online]. <Available>http://jobsearch.about.com/od/employeerights/a/fired-for-facebook.htm [accessed: 09 March 2013]

 

Forbes. 2013. 5 ways social media will change the way you work in 2013 [online]. <Available>http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/11/5-ways-social-media-will-change-the-way-you-work-in [accessed: 10 march 2013]

 

Good reads. 2012. Quotes about social media (27 quotes) [online]. <Available>http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/social-media [accessed: 08 March 2013]

 

Newmedia.org. 2013. What is new media? [Online]. <Available>http://www.newmedia.org/what-is-new-media.html [accessed: 08 March 2013]

 

Social Media today. 2013. Why you can’t fire employees for complaining on Facebook [online]. <Available>http://socialmedia.com/mike--alton/1247406/why-you-cant-fire-employees- [accessed: 08 March 2013]

 

The South African Labour Guide. 2013. Social Media: Guidelines on the policy for employees using social media for business purposes [online]. <Available>http://www.labourguide.co.za/most-recent-publications/social-media [accessed: 10 March 2013]