Can a civil servant be forced toset upasocial internet siteaccount?
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Can a civil servant be forced toset upasocial internet siteaccount?
I am working for the US Army in Civil Service. Now they have facebook and they are trying to force us to get our own facebook accounts. I cant imagine how they can legally force us to do this? am I right? can I refuse?
Asked on November 10, 2010 under Employment Labor Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, unless you have a contract of some sort to the contrary, you can't refuse. An employer may make obtaining and having a social media account (e.g. Facebook) a condition or term of employment, just as an employer can require employees to be able to provide their own transportion to work, to have cell phones so they can be reached when offsite, to have acceptable clothing for work, etc. While it's understandably annoying, there is nothing illegal about an employer requiring employees to have and maintain their own Facebook or other accounts as a condition of employment; and if you don't honor this condition, you could be terminated (though if you're civil service, they'd have to go through the proper process and meet whatever your civil service requirements for termination are).
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