Dealing with employees’ defamatory online attacks: quick guide for TX employers
Employers are more susceptible to online attacks than ever before. Disgruntled employees have numerous avenues at their disposal to air their work-related grievances. They can use their personal social media accounts to publish and share defamatory messages and images with tens of thousands of people. Influential job-review websites allow anyone with an e-mail address to post anonymous reviews about an employer. Read on to find out what you can do to minimize the damage.
Free speech vs. defamation
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people’s opinions posted online, including anonymous speech. Employers can take action to have an employee’s online content removed, however, if the grievance runs afoul of the defamation laws or interferes with business contracts or trade secrets.