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More Trouble with Twitter: How Social Media Can Harm Your Business

It was reported this morning that the estate agency Savills has launched an investigation after one of its managers allegedly posted a racist tweet following England’s UEFA EURO Cup Final defeat last night.  The incident caused Savills to publish a tweet saying that it “is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. A full investigation will be carried out in regards to this unacceptable incident”.

We have previously commented on the legal and reputational risks faced by businesses whose employees publish personal opinions on confidential business issues, politics or other controversial subjects online.  This morning’s news highlights those risks yet again and emphasises the need for employers to put in place social media policies and guidelines and keep them under regular review.

As in this case, social media is generally used outside of work time, and in a non-work context, but by following the electronic trail, readers can quickly link unacceptable and/or offensive content to your organisation.

A prudent employer will make it clear in their polices that causing reputational harm is a very serious matter and, because prevention is always better than cure, that message should be reinforced through the induction process for new staff and through appropriate ongoing training.

Our Employment and Data Privacy experts are available to advise you on how to avoid these problems, or how to deal with them when they occur.

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