Louisiana Employers Cannot Demand Social Media Passwords
Beginning August 1, 2014, Louisiana employers will be prohibited from demanding or even requesting that applicants disclose their log in information for their online accounts. Employers cannot take any adverse action, including not hiring an applicant, because the applicant refused to disclose the information. However, the new law (Personal Online Account Privacy Protection Act) does not expressly prohibit employers from demanding an applicant or current employee accept a friend request.
At this point, employees who are subjected to improper password demands or adverse employment actions for their refusal disclose the requested information cannot sue under the new law.
To ensure your business is compliant with this and other employment laws, employers should consult with a knowledgeable attorney and review all employee applications and train interviewers.
For More details on the Personal Online Account Privacy Act, see my related post here.
