Employer Watching Employee Facebook?

Hi Bethany,

In general, employers are allowed to look at Facebook and other forms of social media in order to ensure that their employees are not representing them in a negative light, amongst other reasons. Employers may also have a legal responsibility over what their employees publish/say/do online and may be liable in some cases.

Your workplace should have a social media policy. If so, read this. It may be the case that your employer is just concerned about what you wrote and wish to enquire further about how you're fitting in in the workplace.

I would suggest, in future, to make your posts private from non-friends and followers.

 

Hi Bethany

I agree with Sarah J that the first place to start here would be to see if your company has a social media policy, or if your employment contract contains any terms relating to social media.

While an employer cannot monitor your emails or internet usage at work without notifying you (there is legislation in each state protecting your right not to be under surveillance in the workplace without your knowledge), there is unfortunately nothing stopping them from monitoring information you post on a public forum. Even if you don't mention the company name, you are likely still traceable back to your employer by anyone in your friends list who knows where you work.

Also, as rightly mentioned by Sarah J, your employer would be concerned over its liability if things you are written could be construed as being written on behalf of the company or attributed to the company. I think you've made the right decision in making your profile private and blocking any of your work colleagues.

Unfortunately with the public nature of social media these days, it's better to be safe than sorry to and to avoid making any negative references at all to your employment or employer.

Best of luck for your meeting.

 

1. If you put it out there in public,
   where anyone, including your employer can see it,
   then you do so at your own risk.
   
   
2. As an employee, you do have a duty towards your employer,
   which (to greatly over-simplify) includes
   not making public comment that could damage the employer.
   Yes, even a vent on Facebook falls within that.
   It is pretty much irrelevant that you may be
   at home/ off-duty/ using your private phone etc.
   
   
3. You do not have the kind of right to free speech that you may think you have.
   
   
4. Take a support person with you to the meeting.
   Ideally, take somebody from your Union.

 

To add to what has already been posted above, if you are dismissed get legal advice as soon as possible as you only have 21 days to make an unfair dismissal claim.