Human resource and employment law professionals are urging businesses to review their employee handbooks for the upcoming year in light of several changes in the field of social media policy over the past 12 months.

As many of you know, the National Labor Relations Board—in addition to mandating a new Employee Rights Poster—has clarified what is considered "protected concerted activity" under the watershed 1938 National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Now considered protected concerted activities under the NLRA are social media postings that concern workplace issues that are not lone "gripe" sessions but involve more than one employee in the discussion. In a sense, the water cooler has thus been moved to cyberspace.

If your company lacks a social media policy, or if your policy is over-restrictive, you need to modify the current one or develop a new one. This policy should naturally be reflected in your employee handbook.

Personnel Concepts now offers a convenient online tool for building a customized company employee handbook that incorporates a solid social media policy. Sign up at our Online Handbook Center today and begin the step-by-step process of compiling your 2012 employee handbook today.