Laid-Off Workers Gain Influence on Social Media, Raising Concerns for Employers
Waves of mass layoffs during the past two years have generated a new trend: l ayoff influencers who use social media to vent feelings, get assistance with a job search, and find community with other laid-off workers. This trend raises concerns for companies that don’t want misinformation or embarrassing stories about them to be circulated online, and o pens doors potentially to third parties seeking to represent employees in collective bargaining and potential litigation. Quick Hits Some laid-off workers are becoming social media influencers, telling their layoff stories to thousands of followers and outsiders. Former employees generally are not prohibited from criticizing their former employer on social media if their comments are true and not defamatory. To protect their brand and public image, companies can offer severance agreements, including nondisparagement clauses, to laid-off workers. Hundreds of thousands of employees were laid off in 2023, especially in the tech, const...