Social Media Policies: Best Business Practices

Protect Your Company & Employees With A Social Media Policy

In today’s (growing) world of social media, it is paramount for businesses of all sizes to have a social media policy in place. A social media policy not only protects employees but employers as well. As with all corporate policies they should be drafted with care for a specific business and properly introduced and enforced. The social media policy lawyers at Kahane Law Office in Calgary, Alberta are able to help your corporate set up best business policy practices.

Reasons For A Social Media Policy (& Corporate Social Media)

• To protect a company’s reputation
• Build your corporate brand
• Build your corporate identity
• Become an industry leader and specialist
• Leverage positive postings and deal with negative ones
• Protect intellectual property and other confidential information
• Set standards and make employees aware of the impact of social media

What Should Be In A Social Media Policy?

A good social media policy will lay out the expectation of employees with respect to social media. The policy will set parameters of employee personal social media use, social media privacy (both on corporate equipment and with respect to public posts), will set out corporate policy on social media posts done by the company and about the company. A good social media policy in Alberta will also reference the company’s anti-harassment policy and anti-discrimination policy.

Areas to Cover in A Social Media Policy

The following are specifics that can and should be addressed in a social media policy. What is included in a particular business’s social media policy will depend on the type of business. Consider the following:

• What is confidential information and how it can or cannot be shared on social media
• Who is responsible for posting on social media for the company and on the company’s social media
• Who can employees go to for clarity on social media issues
• Ban illegal activity (obvious but worth including)
• Avoid violating intellectual property rights and laws
• Consequences of breaching the social media policy

When Should Social Media Policies Be Put In Place?

There is a Japanese proverb: The best time to plant an apple tree is 25 years ago; The second best time to plant an apple tree is today. Social media policies are the same. In Calgary and all of Alberta, it is important to put a social media policy into place in your company. If you do not have one, now is the time.

The Modern Social Media Policy

Many social media policies have been drafted with the perspective of what cannot or should not be done. While this is important, a social media policy can also be drafted in a way that focuses on what is allowed. Either way social media policies are important. There can be extensive liability and consequences for both employees and employers. This includes vicarious liability for employers for the actions of employees.

Educate Educate & Educate

The most important thing about a strong social media policy is to educate your employees about it. All employees. All employees should sign off on having read and understood the policy presented to them.

Finding A Social Media Policy Lawyer In Calgary

If you are looking for a low cost, flat rate social media policy for your company, we can help. The lawyers at Kahane Law Office in Calgary, Alberta understand both social media and the importance of having a strong social media policy. CONNECT TODAY! You can reach us toll-free at 1-877-225-8817 (or 403-225-8810 locally in Calgary, Alberta), or email us directly here.