Business & Work

Today, many social and political debates and discussions happen online. You may be worried about whether your employer can use your social media activity against you.

Can my employer limit my use of social media?

Yes, employers may have rules on the use of social media. Usually, those rules apply if you are using the employer's devices. They may also apply if you are posting on social media while on the job.

But some employers may also limit how you use social media in your personal time. For example, if your social media posts create a hostile environment at work. 

If you are working for the federal government your rights to speak freely may be limited. Your speech is protected if you are speaking:

• As a private citizen,
• About a matter of public concern, and
• Your speech does not interfere with your job.

But, there are exceptions. You can use this flowchart to help you figure out whether your speech is protected.

In Illinois, your employer cannot ask you to provide your accounts or passwords to your social media accounts. But, your employer may still use anything that is public. If any of your social media profiles or posts are public, your employer may use them. Also, it may come to their attention by a complaint A written statement to start a lawsuit that says what the defendant did filed by a colleague or a customer.

Can my employer fire me for my use of social media?

Yes. Your employer may fire you if they do not agree with your activity on social media.

There are some exceptions.

In the US, your employer may not react against you for complaining about your job on social media. Your complaint must look for other co-workers to join you to take action, or to bring to the attention of your employer a complaint from you and your colleagues.

If your employer reacts by firing you, you can file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. You can see some examples of this protection.

In Illinois, it is a crime when a person threatens another person to stop their political activities. For example, voting, or supporting or opposing a nomination or election of any person. Your employer may not stop you from posting on social media by, for example, threatening to fire you. That same applies to colleagues. They cannot threaten you to stop you from posting about your support of a candidate, for example.

In Urbana, your employer cannot make decisions regarding your hiring, firing, training, etc., based on your belonging to or endorsing of a political party A person or business involved in a court case in a role like plaintiff, petitioner, defendant, respondent, or intervenor. or activity. If your employer is in Urbana, you can file a complaint with Urbana's Human Relations Commission.