Investigating employee harassment via social media

Previously the investigation of employee harassment within the workplace would typically have involved obtaining evidence regarding physical contact, verbal contact (face to face or via telephone) or written contact (via letters or notes or email) between a suspect and a victim. Social media has added a new avenue to the investigation of employee harassment that goes beyond the physical workplace and normal working hours. In this paper we examine the process of computer forensic investigation of employee harassment via social media and the legal aspects of such. In particular we examine employee harassment via social media in terms of the reporting of harassment, the computer forensic investigation process, the relevant UK legislation and its application, and discuss good practice guidelines for educating employers and employees regarding how to use social media in the workplace and beyond in an acceptable manner.