Are your status updates NSFW (not safe for work)?
We've all had one of those days at work. And with our vast Facebook® networks, it's easier than ever to vent about it to all of our friends at once. Even with better controls over who you can share with on Facebook, a misunderstanding of your workplace's social media policies and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) guidelines could cost you your job.
The NLRB, a federal agency that can rule on labor-related disputes, has seen an increase in social media-related employee dismissal cases. In a Cleveland.com interview, NLRB's new media spokesperson Tony Wagner explains, "when one employee is simply griping about such issues involving a boss, work schedule or salary, then that employee's actions generally are not protected. But when those actions involve more than one employee complaining about working conditions, those actions are protected."
In a recent report, the NLRB summarized some of the social media-related employee terminations. While these rulings might not cover all of your employer's social media policies, there are some questions devised from the NLRB report that you might want to think about before posting your workplace criticisms.
