Blogging: Who is Protected?

Blogs, a personal diary or journal, are an on-line craze. Once posted, blogs can be read by anyone and can be misused by employees.

Companies use blogging policies to educate employees about their rights and responsibilities and to avoid potential conflicts. Include employees in the policy making decisions about blogging to create cooperation and a sense of involvement. Company policies should advise employees that any blog:

1. Should include a disclaimer that the opinions in the blog belong to the author alone;

2. May not be used to disclose confidential information belonging to the company or others;

3. May not include content that negatively reflects on the company, its customers or its employees, or any­thing sexually explicit, harassing, discriminatory or embarrassing;

4. and May not use the company's logo, trademark, trade name, slogan, or graphics.

Bloggers have few protections. A terminated blogger can allege discrimination if his/her blog discloses religious or ethnical background, or homosexuality, etc. In addition, the National Labor Relations Act can protect a blogger if the blog was used to discuss wages, benefits, other terms and conditions of employment, or to try to unionize their workplace.

Sources:
Burling, Stacey. More Employers are Reading Job Applicants? Blogs http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/12434272.htm
Wichers, Christine. Blogging in the Workplace: Is Your Company Prepared? http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=41978, August 29, 2005

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