The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) just announced they will be holding a meeting on March 12, 2014 to discuss the use of social media in the workplace and its impact on the enforcement of equal employment opportunity laws.  According to the EEOC’s announcement, the participants will address a range of issues, including recruitment and hiring, harassment, records retention, and discovery.

The EEOC’s announcement, the opinions of the NLRB’s Acting General Counsel, state laws prohibiting employers from requesting social media account access, and numerous industry specific guidance all highlight the need for employers to examine their own social media practices and the impact social media may have on their business.