Badmouthing The Boss Online: A Firing Offense?

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by Audrina Bigos
Bio | Email | Follow: @AudrinaBigos

CHARLOTTE, NC- The average employee spends about 19 hours a week worrying about their boss!  For some, worry turns to trash talking online

"You had a bad day and you're lashing out. Write it down and shred it. Don't put it on the internet because once it's out there- it's out there," said Deanna Arnold, president of Employers Advantage LLC.

Arnold says a false sense of privacy pushes employees to cyber trash talk about their boss.

"Once it affects the company, it's part of their business," said Arnold.

But companies don't hold all the power. The national labor relations act determines what slides.

"Complaints that are totally individually centered are not protected by the National Labor Relations Act. Complaints that are collective as to a group or more than one person are protected," said Josh Van Kampen, an employment attorney.

But you won't get in trouble if you're lashing out  about your boss discriminating against you.

"A complaint online about your boss sexually harassing you and other employees. A complaint about a  boss not giving women maternity leave," said Van Kampen.

Companies are keeping up with the times - A growing number of them including Target and Cotsco have developed new social media policies that make badmouthing your boss a fireable offense.

Regardless of your employer's social media policies, Arnold says to make sure you activate your privacy settings.

"It's there forever and so it may cause problems when you go to find a new job because it's always going to there and associated with your name," said Arnold.
 

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