An article in the Guardian has described a new trend amongst students. ‘Spotted’ pages have been set up to allow those studying in university libraries to distract themselves by anonymously posting comments about other students in an online forum on Facebook. Although there seems to be an inevitable movement from harmless joviality and flirtation to pointed abuse extending beyond … Continue reading
In December 2012, Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) set out interim guidelines for the prosecution of people who misuse social media, but are these suitable for use in the workplace? As a result of an increase in the number of allegations the Crown Prosecution Service has had to deal with – about … Continue reading
Whether it’s real or the work of mischievous hackers, an outburst on Twitter today, seemingly from the troubled retailer’s own employees, highlights a problem many employers may face in the coming years. HMV’s 62,561 Twitter followers received a twenty minute tirade of messages from workers in the process of being dismissed. Initially light-hearted, the missives soon … Continue reading
Young Lawyer Reports Interview with President Young Lawyer Magazine quotes from Legal Cheek interview with Lucy Scott-Moncrieff and picks up on the alternative routes to qualification which may result from the Legal Education and Training Review. Continue reading
The ‘social media police’ are out in force in the civil service The Guardian recently reported that 116 civil servants in the Department for Work and Pensions have been disciplined since 2009 for their use of social media at work, of which 11 have been dismissed. The DWP has stated that access to social media … Continue reading
How can companies ensure business secrecy while encouraging employees to use social media? Kevin Poulter examines the case The rise in the use of smartphones and social media means that there is an increased risk of employees leaking sensitive or confidential information about a company and placing it firmly in the public domain. Most employers … Continue reading
How should your business handle misuse of social media by employees? Employment lawyer Kevin Poulter talks through the key issues Social media use seems to be growing faster than the legal or political methods available to control it – as the recent riots have highlighted. Whether it’s naming footballers otherwise protected by a super-injunction, or a breeding salubrious … Continue reading
Kevin Poulter 