How Much is too Much?

Regulated professionals working within the healthcare organizations should be cautious about how much they say when it comes to contentious issues. The pandemic has highlighted the importance for organizations to be clear about their direction to employees who must balance personal views with those that are in the public interest.

To mitigate risk, organizations should:

1. Establish clear policies and procedures about engaging in public commentary including social media.

2. Use opportunities to share and educate staff through staff meetings and gatherings. Ensure that your organization's views are explicit.

3. Encourage staff to share organizational views when meeting with clients and/or other stakeholders. Remind them that when working, they represent organizational views and not their own.

4. Create mechanisms for dialogue for divergent views to be discussed and clarified

See Waddell v. Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, The HPARB noted that the physician’s “advocacy” on social media was not the appropriate vehicle by which to deal with his “complaints.”