Social media posts can cost you your job
Your online presence can impact your professional life. A recent court case has proven that it can have serious consequences in the workplace.
South African employees are finding out that their online activities can have serious repercussions in the workplace. According to BusinessTech, recent court cases have shown that employers can discipline employees for social media posts made outside of work, even on personal profiles.
The Labour Court recently ruled that an employee's dismissal was fair due to posts they made on Facebook while on holiday. The posts were deemed racial and derogatory. The court found that they exposed the company to potential reputational damage. The fact that the employee's Facebook profile indicated their place of employment was enough to establish a connection between the employee's conduct and the company's business.
Employees need to be aware that their social media posts can have consequences in the workplace, even if they are made outside of work hours.
Digital law expert Emma Sadleir noted that South African law is catching up with workers and actively punishing inappropriate posts.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has also been consistent in its rulings on social media posts. If an employee's posts bring their employer into disrepute, they can be fired.
With the rise of remote work, the lines between "on duty" and "off duty" social media use have become blurred.
Employees must be aware that they will be held liable for what they say online, even if they try to raise "personal capacity" as a defence. The courts have made it clear that there is no such thing as a separation between personal and professional online presence.
In light of these cases, it's essential to be cautious about what you post online. Before hitting post, consider whether the content could potentially damage your employer's reputation or create a conflict of interest.
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