Facebook is a word that did not appear in
decisions of Fair Work Australia (FWA), the
federal industrial tribunal, until 2009. Since that first mention,
there have been over 20 decided cases involving unfair dismissal
claims by employees who were sacked over the content of posts on
their Facebook page.
Social media is in the workplace to stay. Now more than ever is
it crucial for organisations to have an effective social media
policy to avoid unnecessary litigation.
In a recent Facebook dismissal case (in which the claim for
unfair dismissal failed), FWA said:
"Postings on Facebook and the general use of social
networking sites by individuals to display their displeasure with
their employer or a co-worker are becoming more common. What might
previously have been a grumble about their employer over a coffee
or drinks with friends has turned into a posting on a website that,
in some cases, may be seen by an unlimited number of
people..."
