Social Media Surveillance

Posted by dcjack on June 6, 2010 under Articles |

Earlier this week I reviewed yet another case involving a disgruntled employee who elected to “voice” her displeasure with some issues in the clinic on a popular social media site.  In the most graphic of ways, the employee published indicated her difference of opinion with the owner of the clinic on a medical case suggesting that the veterinarian was incompetent.  Beyond the potentially libellous nature of the comments, the text was evidence of the breach by the employee of the common law duty to act in the best interests of the employer.  I confess to not understanding the approach adopted, far too often in my view, by employees to demonstrate their concerns outside of the clinic; especially in a forum that it so “public”.  Given the increasing willingness for employees to comment adversely about their employers, it would seem prudent for employers to monitor some of these “posts” to ensure that confidential information is not being disclosed and that employees are conducting themselves appropriately.