Did you post negative comments on a social media site like Facebook or Twitter about your employer recently? And were you fired as a result of those comments? If so, you may be protected under what is known as concerted activity.
The National Labor Relations Board defines concerted activity as occurring, “when two or more employees take action for their mutual aid or protection regarding terms and conditions of employment.” In addition, the NLRB further explains that a single employee may be protected under concerted activity if he or she is “acting on the authority of other employees, bringing group complaints to the employer’s attention, trying to induce group action, or seeking to prepare for group action.”
Thus, if you have been fired for engaging in any of the following behaviors on a social media site, you may be able to take action against your employer for unlawfully terminating you:
It is important for you to realize that simply ranting about work conditions on a social media site does not constitute concerted activity — the individuals you correspond with must be fellow employees. Since the laws regarding concerted activity and social media are fairly new, it is in your best interest to speak with a skilled employment law attorney to obtain further advice about your case.