Warning for firms over staff on social networks

Half of Irish employers are treading a legal minefield by failing to put policies in place to regulate social media use in the workplace.

The warning comes as a report shows 81% of employees access social media at work and use it for an average of an hour a day on company time.

Apart from loss of productivity, employers can face massive problems policing what is said by employees online, what contacts they cultivate, and what damage might be caused if comments are construed to be made in a professional rather than personal capacity.