Employers should have blog policies : UK law firm
In light of a recent employee winning an unfair dismissal claim when fired for blogging, UK law firm, Hegarty Solicitors, is advising employers to cover blogs in their employment policies.
From employment partner Tim Thompson:
Employers should ensure they have a policy in place about blogging but must also tell their staff about the existence of the policy. It is now common for firms to have e-mail and internet policies. But they need to be extended to include blogging.If the employee has made comments in a blog which could damage the company or reveals confidential information then it might be treated as misconduct.
I've advised clients who caught an employee updating a blog at work earlier this year. The employee was disciplined and told that if they continued to write the blog at work they may be later dismissed.
Technorati Tags: blog law, blog policies
Employers should keep in mind that policies restricting interactive employee communication can violate federal labor law -- whether your workforce is unionized or not.
Here are some articles disussing the broader topic: Employer Confidntiality Policies and the NLRA
Here is an example blogging policy.
Hope that helps.
- Patrick
Patrick Della Valle
Employment Law Information Network