policy on social networking sites

2445428 · September 2009

can any of you share your office policy prohibiting employees from viewing, posting, participating in social networking sites while on the job or while using office equipment?

cnghr · September 2009

We don't have a written policy, those sorts of sites are simply blocked so nobody can access them at work, as are many other non-work-related websites.

Sharon McKnight SPHR · September 2009

We've recently drafted a policy on social media and as soon as we post to HRHero I'll let everyone know it's available on the site. In the meantime, if you'll send me your email address, I'll forward it to you.

Sharon

KSR6450 · September 2009

There are sites you can use to bypass a block - so you might want to reconsider putting a policy in place. (And yes, I know this because I have used one. With a boy friend in Iraq, 8 hours ahead of us, I would spend my lunch hours chatting with him until our IT lady decided that wasn't allowed and blocked FB. I bought an iPhone.)

dlongawa · September 2010

I would appreciate a sample policy on Social Networking; ie. FB, etc. If possible, we're thinking about tightening the grip but not necessarily blocking it. I know that many like to use it on their lunch break, etc. Any suggestions?

dlongawa · September 2010

[QUOTE=Sharon McKnight SPHR;717722]We've recently drafted a policy on social media and as soon as we post to HRHero I'll let everyone know it's available on the site. In the meantime, if you'll send me your email address, I'll forward it to you.

Sharon[/QUOTE]
Hi, Sharon-- may I review your policy on Social Networking? How may I advise you of my email? Please advise. Thanks.

ACU Frank · September 2010

Sharon - I'd like an 'advance' copy too. I have only a few days left to finish our policy, and I'm trying to get as much input as possible.

Sharon McKnight SPHR · September 2010

The social media policy is currently available on both HRHero and HRLaws. If you have trouble finding it just let me know.

Sharon

smeilleur · February 2011

My question, Sharon, is this ... given that the policy on the HR Hero page hasn't been updated since 2009, how current is it, particularly with respect to recent court and NLRB rulings?

Sharon McKnight SPHR · February 2011

[quote=smeilleur;721568]My question, Sharon, is this ... given that the policy on the HR Hero page hasn't been updated since 2009, how current is it, particularly with respect to recent court and NLRB rulings?[/quote]

I'm afraid that's my goof!!

The policy was updated in June 2010, but I forgot to update the date on the site. Because social media is such a fluid issue, which new wrinkles popping up all the time, we're in the process of having the policy reviewed again by one of the Employers Counsel Network attorneys who routinely deals with social media issues. Once we have it finalized, we'll replace the old with the new on both HRHero and HRLaws.

Sharon

Sharon McKnight SPHR · February 2011

To smeilleur:

Your first post!

Welcome to the Employers Forum. We're glad you're here and look forward to more posts from you.

Sharon

[U]

[/U]

ACU Frank · February 2011

The reference to Friendster and Geocities was a giveaway.

Sharon McKnight SPHR · February 2011

To smeilleur,

In my haste to respond to your post, I almost forgot -- it's your first post!

Welcome to the Employers Forum. We're glad you're here and look forward to more posts from you.

Sharon

:welcome:

Celeste Blackburn SPHR · February 2011

[URL="http://hrhero.com/techforhr/2010/11/nlrb-makes-a-play-for-your-social-networking-policy/"]One of the cases that we've been following[/URL] and that caused quite a buzz late last year was the NLRB stepping in when a company fired an employee for her Facebook posts. A settlement was announced in that case yesterday (2/10/2011). one of the best places to keep up with this case is on the [URL="http://www.facebook.com/NLRBpage"]NLRB's Facebook page[/URL] (ha!).

Here is a part of the [URL="http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Press Releases/2011/R-2815.pdf"]NLRB's official news release on the case[/URL]:

[INDENT]Under the terms of the settlement . . . the company agreed to revise its overly-broad rules [in its employee handbook regarding blogging, Internet posting, and communications between employees] to ensure that they do not improperly restrict employees from discussing their wages, hours and working conditions with co-workers and others while not at work, and that they would not discipline or discharge employees for engaging in such discussions.

[/INDENT]Something to think about when deciding on your own social media polices. [URL="http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Press Releases/2011/R-2815.pdf"]The whole news release is worth a quick read[/URL] if you'd like an overview of the case and why the NLRB got involved in the first place.

Celeste

neveradull · February 2011

[quote=Celeste Blackburn;721593][URL="http://hrhero.com/techforhr/2010/11/nlrb-makes-a-play-for-your-social-networking-policy/"]One of the cases that we've been following[/URL] and that caused quite a buzz late last year was the NLRB stepping in when a company fired an employee for her Facebook posts. A settlement was announced in that case yesterday (2/10/2011).

Am I the onlyone to notice that 2/10/11 isn't here yet?

Celeste Blackburn SPHR · February 2011

Good catch! I meant 2/7/2011

Jessica Ayer · February 2011

Here's a link to an HR Hero post that provides more information about the case and the settlement: [URL="http://blogs.hrhero.com/hrnews/2011/02/08/company-settles-facebook-firing-case-initiated-by-nlrb/"]http://blogs.hrhero.com/hrnews/2011/02/08/company-settles-facebook-firing-case-initiated-by-nlrb/[/URL]

Paul in Cannon Beach · February 2011

Interesting.... I am currently rewriting our social networking policy and its informative to read about this.

I think employers who try to rigidly control everything their employees do or say online are going to find that inneffective and impossible. Besides, no company will be destroyed by the whiny bloggings of one disgruntled employee.

Case in point, there is a website called [URL="http://www.ihatestarbucks.com"]www.ihatestarbucks.com[/URL] thats been around for years. Its full of rants written by angry baristas who hate YOU and your tripple decaf soy latte (skim milk please). But Starbucks continues to churn out millions in profits.

Still, I think employers cant stick their heads in the sand either. A balanced policy that clearly states your expectations and outlines your policies about what you feel is appropriate is a good idea.

ACU Frank · February 2011

[QUOTE=neveradull;721594]
Am I the onlyone to notice that 2/10/11 isn't here yet?[/QUOTE]

Boy, are YOU behind the times!

Celeste Blackburn SPHR · February 2011

[quote=Sharon McKnight SPHR;721575]I'm afraid that's my goof!!

The policy was updated in June 2010, but I forgot to update the date on the site. Because social media is such a fluid issue, which new wrinkles popping up all the time, we're in the process of having the policy reviewed again by one of the Employers Counsel Network attorneys who routinely deals with social media issues. Once we have it finalized, we'll replace the old with the new on both HRHero and HRLaws.

Sharon[/quote]

Just got word back from our social media guru, and she says the policy is good to go.

Sharon McKnight SPHR · February 2011

[quote=Celeste Blackburn;721644]Just got word back from our social media guru, and she says the policy is good to go.[/quote]

Thanks for letting us know, Celeste.

policy on social networking sites

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