There was a time before Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, when employees’ activities outside of work did not concern their employers. Today, however, these communication platforms are fundamentally altering – and complicating – the employment relationship.
Social media has quickly become an integral part of personal and professional life. While these platforms often encourage debate and provide an avenue for expression, they are also proving to be landmines as both individuals and companies are getting themselves into trouble for offensive, defamatory and harmful posts.
The biggest challenge with social media is that it has grown so rapidly and universally, that the wheels of justice have struggled to keep pace. This affects employees, who don’t realise the potentially serious legal implications of their posts, and businesses that don’t have clear social media policies and procedures in place.
FOR THE EMPLOYEE
Many people make comments on social media without thinking about the repercussions, and while freedom of speech is written into our constitution, employees are being publicly shamed and many are losing their jobs because of what they say on their private social media accounts.
Employees place themselves at huge risk by openly expressing their views, which their employer or other people may not agree with. Individuals should never underestimate the power and reach of social media, and they should regard their profiles as a personal brand, where they can build their reputation. How a person acts on these platforms can impact their future, and this is why the underlying message is: Think before you post!
FOR THE EMPLOYER
A company cannot prevent an employee from using their personal social media accounts, invariably linking the company’s brand with these personal opinions. This means that an employee’s online behaviour is a concern for the company they work for.
With the rapid growth of social media, new legal issues are arising in the workplace, and employers need to protect their business against costly litigation, possible loss of business and significant brand damage. To do this they must have clear social media policies that stipulate what is considered acceptable conduct, on personal accounts and accounts the employee runs on behalf of the company. In addition, employees must be trained on these policies, so that social media is used in a responsible way.
USE RESPONSIBLY
There’s no denying the power and popularity of social media, and when it’s used effectively there are huge benefits, but when things go wrong it can cause irreparable damage to the reputation of an individual or a company. The line between private and public is quickly disappearing, and social media users need to treat every post as public – and permanent.
Speak to your Indwe Risk Services advisor today on 0860 13 13 14, to get the right advice on legal liability cover.