Social media Policy for employees PDF

Updated October 27, 2022

A social media policy is created by an employer to provide guidelines for content that can and cannot be posted on an employee’s social media profile. A company will usually prohibit confidential items from being made public. An employer has the right to terminate an employee for any type of posting about their company as long as the employee is not posting about negative work conditions.

27% of employed individuals use social media to make or support professional connections (Pew Research 2016).

What Can Be Posted (Legally)

In accordance with the National Labor Relations Act, an employee can post the following:

1. Right to Self Organize – Or collectively bargain with other employees for labor organizations or unions (29 U.S. Code § 157);
2. Reveal Unfair Working Conditions – Due to the employer interfering, restraining, or coercing the employees to not organize (29 U.S. Code 158(a))
3. Labor Union is Unfairly Treating its Members – Or discriminating or coercing employees not part of the union (29 U.S. Code § 158(b)); and
4. Personal Expressions – The expression of any views, argument, or opinion (29 U.S. Code § 158(c)).

What Cannot Be Posted

An employee can be disciplined or terminated for disclosing confidential or proprietary information about the employer or their business practices.

Corporate Samples (10)

• Best Buy
• Coca-Cola
• Dell
• IBM
• Intel
• Mayo Clinic
• Nordstrom
• Reuters
• Walmart
• Xerox

School Samples (5)

• East/West University
• Princeton University
• Stanford University
• University of Dallas
• University of Houston

How do I write a social media policy for my employees?

What are examples of social media policies?

What is social media Etiquette for employees?

What rules or policies should be set for social media?