Teachers in Scotland have been cautioned that they could be risking their careers by using social networking sites. The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association has told of how teachers can inadvertently reveal excessive amounts of personal information through setting up a profile on popular social networking sites. The union has also made public its fears that teachers could befriend pupils on the sites. Their concerns have led the General Teaching Council of Scotland to prepare new guidelines for teachers on the use of social networking sites.
Jim Docherty, the SSTA’s assistant secretary, has informed teachers that they should closely follow the union’s new guidance on social networking site usage. Mr. Docherty has warned teachers that they should never use social networking sites to make comments about their work, their employer or about general teaching issues. He added that in making such comments, teachers ran the risk of being misinterpreted.
Duncan Lewis’ employment law department can represent teachers facing employment tribunals over their use of social networking sites. The department can assist clients in meeting the cost of their legal representation under the Legal Help scheme. While clients are unable to acquire Legal Aid for employment tribunal representation, they may be granted financial support towards the cost of legal guidance at employment appeal tribunals or court of appeal hearings.
In addition to providing expert legal advice to teachers through public funding, Duncan Lewis’ employment law solicitors are able to accept privately paying clients and are proud to offer clients fixed fee arrangements, enabling them to understand the legal costs upfront.