Employee insults co-worker online: What to do?
Filed under: Employee computer use, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Security and law
Imagine this situation: An employee comes to you because she’s insulted by a co-worker’s blog. The blogger writes about work, without using names, but it’s obvious to the employee who she is talking about – and she doesn’t have nice things to say. What should you do?
As blogging becomes more popular, it’s likely there are at least a few people at your company who’ve taken up the hobby. Most employees’ blogs are harmless — but occasionally, they’ll write about work. That’s where the trouble starts.
In the case of an insulted co-worker, here are some things to keep in mind when deciding how to respond:
- Harassment rules still apply. An employee’s blog can create a “hostile work environment” just like any other type of communication between employees, managers and co-workers.
- You can forbid employees from blogging about the company, especially when there are insults involved, or confidential information might be leaked.
That said, there are some things you can’t keep employees from writing. The National Labor Relations Act gives employees the right to discuss their salaries and working conditions.
In one recent court case, an employee sued after he was punished for criticizing company management in his blog. The court ruled against the company, deciding that the blog was protected speech under the NLRA (Cite: Konop v. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.).
Have you ever gotten complaints about a co-worker’s personal blog? How did you handle it? What would you do if you did get a complaint like that? Let us know in the comments section below.
Comments
One Comment on Employee insults co-worker online: What to do?
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Fred on
Wed, 28th Jan 2009 10:32 am
If this is at home and a personal blog then get over it. The “insulted” individual needs to not worry about it. If you don’t like it don’t read it. If it is at work and allowed by the company, then counsel the worker writing the blog in regards to what he can legally put in it (or in this case what he can’t).
We don’t have enough information in this article to determine details about this case butif the information is true and if no names were used and you can still figure out who they are talking about then maybe this individual needs to change their ways.
We still live in free country where our speech is protected by the Constitution.
