Blogs are online diaries that allow people to share anything with the world and are becoming a popular communications tool. However, they can also raise some legal issues for employers.

 

While having a personal blog that is worked on at home is growing in popularity, employees have also been using blogs to pass on confidential information, including inappropriate material that could be perceived as harassment, or posting slanderous statements about the employer. To protect themselves, while still protecting an individual’s 1^st Amendment rights, an employer should keep these things in mind:

 

Study the Law – Investigate any State restrictions you may have and learn what rights your company has and what rights your employees have.

 

Write a Policy – Be sure this policy is entirely clear regarding blogs and is included in your company’s overall HR policies.

 

Communicate – Assure that all employees are given the policy to read and communicate the policy’s intent to them.

 

Keep it Legal – This is a new area of law and it is advised that companies consult their in-house or contracted legal counsel prior to acting on any employee’s blog.

 

Since blogs are such a new arena in the Internet world, most employees are unaware of any legal implications from what they post. It is important to educate them on the implications of their actions, to protect them, as well as you.