New technologies, especially those in the rapidly evolving social media realm, have led to a whole new set of legal and ethical questions. Law makers simply cannot keep up with the pace of change. As new issues arise, it’s fascinating to see how they are addressed. In October, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint in a case where an employee was terminated after posting negative comments about her supervisor on Facebook. The outcome announced by The New York Times earlier this week: she should not have been fired for posting criticisms on her personal Facebook page while on her home computer. According to the settlement agreement, the employer will review the company’s policies and more clearly define specific “sharing” activity that would result in termination, including discussion of wages and working conditions.
How does your firm track mentions in social media and manage its online reputation? Do you monitor your employee’s personal pages? Do you know what others are saying about you? At what point does someone’s personal opinion become a legal issue? We’d be interested in hearing your thoughts!
