Handling Social Media Misuse in the Workplace

In today’s digital age, social media can amplify an employee’s personal opinions and actions far beyond their intended audience, sometimes leading to serious workplace consequences. When an employee’s online activity raises concerns, employers must carefully assess the potential impact on their organisation, weighing the balance between reputational risk, employee rights, and fair disciplinary procedures. In some cases, this may result in dismissal, but the process must be handled lawfully and proportionately.

Although there is limited caselaw on this issue in Ireland, the following cases from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) provide valuable insights into how social media-related dismissals have been evaluated.