Social media plays a huge role in Americans’ daily lives. As a result, it may be hard to separate personal and work lives online.
Many workers in California might then worry about losing their jobs because of what they post. Knowing your rights and duties when it comes to social media can help you stay safe at work.
What California law says
California has laws that protect what you do outside of work, including on social media. But these protections have limits, for example:
- Worker protection: The state can help if you lose wages for legal actions done outside work hours and away from your workplace.
- Anti-retaliation rules: Your employer can’t punish you for legal activities you do off the clock and off company property.
These laws mean your boss may be unable to fire you for legal social media use outside of work. However, you need to understand that there are exceptions.
Some posts might put your job at risk
Even with legal protections, some social media posts can still get you fired. Be careful about:
- Sharing secret info about your company or clients
- Bullying or threatening coworkers online
- Posting things that damage your company’s image
- Breaking your company’s social media rules
Knowing your company’s social media policy and thinking before posting can help protect your career.
The link between social media and work in California is tricky. You have some protection for what you do online outside of work. But always be careful about posting things that could hurt your job. If you’re having work problems because of social media, you might want to talk to a lawyer about your rights.