Keep Quiet to Keep Working

In the article, "Keep Quiet to Keep Working," featured in Columbus CEO, Regional Managing Partner Steven Loewngart provides commentary on employer's rights to fire employees over off-duty social media usage.

California, Colorado, New York and North Dakota prohibit employers from firing people based on activities away from work. Ohio doesn't, but Loewengart says there are still a few excep­tions to the ability of employers to fire people because of their speech or conduct away from the office.

Loewengart says Ohio companies are well within their rights to fire work­ers whose off-duty activities could affect business or whose actions hurt workplace morale. Written policies about off-duty activities can be a double-edged sword, though, he says. They are often the best defense when a terminated employee sues, but a poorly crafted policy can backfire.

To read the full article, please visit Columbus CEO Magazine.