Employment practices across the country are witnessing an increase in workplace claims as a result of new social media platforms.

DLA Piper Australia workplace relations, employment and safety practice group head Allan Drake-Brockman says the firm has noticed a lot of workplace claims being made which have arisen as a result of social media. “The use of these platforms is more insidious than face-to-face,” he told ALB. “People are more outrageous because for some reasons, even though they are not, they think they are anonymous.”

The increase in workplace bullying, harassment and sexual harassment claims as a result of social media is not restricted to Australia. A recent report by DLA Piper in the UK showed that almost a third of all respondents have been forced to take action against employees because of information posted online about their organisation, and a fifth because of information posted about another individual.“Social media is quite a platform for bullying, harassment and is an ongoing challenge for companies,” added Drake-Brockman.

While some companies have started taking steps to address issues associated with social media through training and HR policies, a number of organisations only begin to do this after a claim has been made, according to Drake-Brockman. “The majority of work is event driven,” he said.

In addition to harassment and bullying of other staff members, social media is also being used as a platform for poaching staff and disclosing confidential company information. Drake-Brockman says it’s important for companies to consider this when writing policies. “Companies need to put in place policies and procedures to protect themselves from risks associated with social media,” he said. “It’s a new era – we have seen a steady increase in claims and I think it’s going to be rampant.”

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