Employers Must Consider Implementing Social Media Policies

The boundaries between personal and professional have become increasingly blurred due to the growing prevalence of internet-based social media, including interactive websites such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.  While social media outlets may be excellent platforms for employees to network and promote their employer’s business, a myriad of problems may result from an employee’s improper or unlawful use of a company’s name, reputation or confidential information while using such social media.

As a result, all employers must consider whether to implement a policy to guide their employees in responsibly and lawfully using social media and any employer that encourages its employees to use social media to further business objectives should have a social media policy in place.  In deciding whether a social media policy is appropriate, an employer should first reflect upon the concepts described below.