Orlando partner Rexford Stephens was quoted in the June 15, 2009, edition of the Bureau of National Affairs' Human Resources Report in the article, "Twitter Is Latest Electronic Tool to Pose Challenges and Opportunities for Employers."
According to the article, the growing popularity of Twitter can be exciting for employers that see its many business advantages, but it also can distract workers and cause a company public embarrassment, expose it to liability, and put proprietary information at risk. The message employers should be getting, according to the article, is that Twitter signals the need to update electronic communications policies—again.
"This newest technology, whether it's Twitter or what's next, is based on past issues," Stephens said. Employers need to address Twitter the way they already have addressed "the big three—telephone use, e-mail, and the Internet," he said.
Detractors and supporters of Twitter agree that it is not the last social networking tool that will require employers to revamp related policies and procedures, according to the article. "Personally, I think it's a fad. I don't have enough time, frankly, to do it," Stephens said. "If you're going to use Twitter it's going to be in the next year. After that, I think the buzz is going to be gone."
Commenting on what companies should consider including in a social media policy, Stephens said that any tweet mentioning the employer needs company approval and that unless the tweet is business-related, messages should not contain company logos, trademarks, or other images representing the organization without its approval.