It’s a tool most employers use. But here’s one way your intranet might expose you to liability for harassment and discrimination suits.

Many companies set up internal message boards on their intranets as a way for employees to communicate. Much like the traditional cork message boards in break rooms, they give people a way to share information with co-workers in a public place.

But some lawyers warn employers about the potential problems with all that electronic sharing. Possible areas of liability include:

1. Harassing or defamatory comments on the message board
2. The sharing of confidential information with unauthorized co-workers, and
3. Issues related to union solicitation.

Avoid problems

If your company uses an internal message board, you can help keep legal issues at bay by having a policy on what is acceptable to post (i.e., nothing discriminatory, harassing, confidential, etc.). Employees should be reminded of the policy each time they log on to the system.

Also, the content should be monitored regularly, and complaints about the use of the board must be addressed effectively.

Read more about internal company message boards in the National Law Journal.

Tags: defamation, harassment, intranets, message boards