Beschäftigte aufgepasst!: Können Social-Media-Posts beruflich zum Problem werden?

Many individuals share their lives on social media platforms, unaware that what is meant privately can also reach colleagues and employers. This can lead to their posts becoming a professional issue. Employees have rights, but the limits of free speech and where those boundaries lie are important to understand. "In essence, personal use of social media is part of private life," explains Volker Görzel, an employment lawyer from the German Association of Labor Lawyers.

Employers should not dictate what employees post during their leisure time. According to Görzel, this only applies when the post has a connection to the employment relationship, such as when employees mention their employer in their profile, appear in work attire, refer to colleagues or superiors, or disclose company secrets. Expressing opinions is permissible, even if employees insult colleagues or superiors, make racist or disrespectful statements, or share posts that question an employee's ability to work.

Depending on the severity of the breach, employees may face warnings or even termination. Even if a profile is set to private, employees can still be sued by their employer. While these profiles have greater protection and cannot be easily monitored by employers, there is still no free-for-all - especially if the audience includes colleagues or customers.

The same applies to private chat groups. Employees can criticize their employers, but free speech ends where personal rights are violated or the employer's interests are affected. The specifics, such as the content of the statement, the choice of words, the reason for the post, its reach, and the employee's position within the company, are crucial in each case.