Social media at work - a practical guide for trade union reps (May 2016)

Chapter 6

Disciplinary procedures

[ch 6: pages 23]

The policy should also explain what disciplinary procedures will be taken and these should be the same measures as for non-internet related disciplinaries. There have been various instances of employers overreacting to content posted by employees, so it would be helpful if the policy stipulated that the employer will carefully consider what has actually been written and what effect it will have had on the organisation. In one example a cleaner was sacked for simply posting online that her job was boring. Acas recommends that the employer gives examples of what might be classed as “defamation” and the penalties it would impose.


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