Another employer has learned the hard way that restricting employees' social media rights can be illegal.

Valero Services provides employee leasing services to the oil industry. In 2012, the United Steelworkers of America, which represents some of its workers, filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board in Port Arthur, Texas, claiming Valero's national social media policy infringed upon workers' legal rights to discuss their conditions of work.

The NLRB investigated and supported the union's position. The company and the board reached a settlement to resolve the matter, and Valero is now implementing the settlement.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.