Social Media & Employees: When Every Little Thing Is Searchable

The scope of an employer's right to discipline and terminate an employee for indiscreet or inappropriate remarks in social media is far from settled. Given that an employee's social media activities have the potential to "go viral" (or at least be seen by hundreds, if not thousands of people), organizations must assess whether the activities of employees outside of work have the potential to negatively affect, even transiently, the reputation and goodwill of the organization.

Currently, the legal battle over an employer's legitimate interest in an employee's use of social media is being played out among employees who are relatively junior within organizations and may, justifiably or unjustifiably, believe that their actions are not under the gaze of their employers.