A recent survey has highlighted urgent concerns for employers regarding employees’ social media use.
- Businesses are predominantly anxious about the sharing of offensive content by employees.
- Social media platforms have been under scrutiny for enabling the spread of harmful content.
- Employers are urged to adopt a three-pronged approach of prevent, protect, promote.
- Many businesses lack strict enforcement or clear social media policies.
The latest survey conducted by WorkNest, a leading employment law consultancy, has brought to light a critical issue for various businesses—employees’ social media activities, particularly the risk of posting or sharing offensive material. According to the survey, more than a third (36%) of companies identified this as their primary concern, surpassing worries about employees’ time spent on such platforms during work hours (23%) and critical posts about the organisation (20%).
Social media platforms have faced significant criticism for their role in spreading harmful and misleading content, as well as inciting violence. Despite the ongoing concern, regulation remains scarce, placing the onus on individual users to maintain responsible online conduct. The rapid dissemination of contentious or offensive content within the workplace environment remains a distinct possibility.
In response to these challenges, Toyah Marshall from WorkNest underscores the importance of understanding the legal framework surrounding social media. Laws such as The Employment Rights Act 1996, The Equality Act 2010, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) alongside the Data Protection Act 1998 are pivotal in defining the lawful use of social media in the workplace. Marshall advocates for a comprehensive three-pronged strategy: prevent, protect, and promote responsible usage.
The survey further reveals that about three in ten businesses (29.6%) have resorted to formal disciplinary measures against employees because of social media misuse, while an additional 15% have considered it. A significant hurdle faced by these companies is the uncertainty about proceeding with formal actions, highlighting the necessity for clear guidelines.
Marshall unequivocally asserts that every organisation must establish a social media policy, emphasizing its essential role in setting and communicating expectations. Without such policies, businesses face ambiguity in managing online behaviour. Although three-quarters of businesses reportedly have some form of guidance, only 44% enforce it strictly, leaving a mere 30% with a well-implemented policy. In an era where social media wields extensive influence, the necessity for robust policy enforcement cannot be overstated.
Despite some businesses having guidelines in place, their effectiveness is questionable. Only a small fraction of companies, a mere 12%, feel certain that their employees have a solid understanding of the expectations surrounding social media use. While over half (52%) of employers believe these expectations are somewhat understood, nearly a third remain doubtful of their employees’ comprehension. This uncertainty underscores the pressing need for effective communication and policy enforcement regarding social media conduct.
The ongoing challenges related to employees’ social media usage underline the significant need for well-defined and enforced corporate policies.
