Woman Gets Message From Boss After Posting Beach Pics: “I Don’t Like This”

A work-life balance is more than just not being harassed by emails late at night, it can be as simple as having a private life that your employer has no say over. But some bosses only see their employees as, well, just that, employees, and think they have a right to dictate things well beyond working hours.

A woman asked the internet if she was overreacting when she got an Instagram message from her boss, complaining that she had posted bikini pictures. We reached out to the woman who posted the pictures via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

It shouldn’t matter to your job what you post on your personal Instagram account

Young woman in a black bikini at the beach, related to boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted online.

Image credits: Lucas Andrade / pexels (not the actual photo)

But one woman got angry DMs from her boss after she posted a bikini picture

Text excerpt showing a young employee's story about her boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted online.

Text message conversation where boss tells employee they don't want bikini pictures posted online due to business image concerns.

Image credits: [deleted]

Text excerpt about a boss checking an employee’s public Instagram profile and concerns over bikini pictures posted.

Text discussing concerns about boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted, shared opinions from friends.

Image credits: [deleted]

As it turns out, in many workplaces, managers can’t just make demands like this

When your boss informs you about what you cannot post on your own personal social networking platforms, it can be invasive and autocratic, but you must understand your rights, your employer’s perspective, and how to address the issue calmly and lawfully.

Your social media rights while employed in the United States depend on a blend of federal, state, and sometimes company regulations. Federal law, such as the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), protects workers’ rights to discuss conditions of work, wages, or unionizing, yes, including on social media. That is, if you’re discussing your working conditions or wages, especially with coworkers or the public, your employer usually can’t discipline you for that. But it doesn’t cover everything. If you post private company information, make harassing or discriminatory statements, or purposefully damage the company’s reputation, your employer might have grounds to discipline or terminate you.

So, if your boss comes along and says something like, “You can’t put that up,” don’t become angry. Instead, get them to clarify. A good place to start is: “Can you tell me what specifically about the post is the problem? ” Try to be inquisitive rather than confrontational. The company may have a social media policy that dictates what is and isn’t acceptable. If they do, ask to see it. A well-crafted policy should establish boundaries and enforce them consistently throughout the workplace.

It’s important to know one’s rights

Image credits: allatsyganova / envato (not the actual photo)

If you are being told not to disclose something personal, like politics, lifestyle, or going to a legal protest, you can be given greater protection, especially by way of state laws. To take an example, some states (like California, New York, and Colorado) pass laws that prevent employers from taking action against an employee for lawful off-work activity, like social media posting. Those protections do normally establish limits, however, where posts themselves amount to harm to the employer’s legitimate business interests.

If the conversation becomes more serious, or if you are being disciplined or threatened with termination regarding a post that you believe is protected, you should record the conversation and consider speaking to an employment lawyer. You may also file a charge with the National Labor Relations Board (the NLRB, isn’t it great how it’s only the last letter that changes?) if your rights under the NLRA have been violated. Greet your boss with professionalism and honesty. Ask for specifics, reference any policy they reference, and define your reason behind the posting if needed. If you believe your rights are infringed upon, check into your state’s labor laws or consult with a professional before resisting too hard. Social media can be your own space, but on the job, the line between public and private becomes blurry, so be sure to know exactly where you are before responding. If you want to read more stories like this, some of the readers shared them below.

Readers were surprised and offered some advice

Text discussing employer restrictions on employees posting bikini pictures online and related social media privacy concerns.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

Comment advising careful written follow-up with a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

Comment discussing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted as controlling and unrelated to business.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted online.

Comment expressing that a boss doesn't want employee bikini pictures posted on social media to control personal life.

Comment discussing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted and concerns over social media boundaries.

Comment discussing employer policies on employee personal social media use and bikini pictures posted online.

Commenter stating that posting bikini pictures is far from the boss's business regarding employee social media content.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a boss who doesn't want employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

User comment stating the situation about a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted and considering filing a complaint.

Comment expressing outrage over boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted, calling behavior unhinged and demanding firing.

Comment saying he's a creep, posted in an online discussion about boss not wanting employee bikini pictures shared.

Comment on a forum post stating that the boss doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, mentioning contacting an attorney.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing privacy and concerns about posting bikini photos with boss not wanting employee pictures shared.

Comment criticizing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, highlighting privacy and workplace boundaries concerns.

Comment expressing strong disbelief about a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted online.

Comment discussing why a boss doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, emphasizing online privacy and professionalism.

Comment discussing boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted and privacy rights on personal social media content.

Text conversation about opposing views on changing content, related to boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted.

Comment discussing boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted and boundaries around personal social media use.

Comment on unacceptable manager behavior about boss not wanting employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

Comment discussing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, describing concerns about grooming behavior.

User comment discussing an employee's right to post bikini pictures despite boss objections and controlling behavior.

Comment on a forum post expressing concern about a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted.

Comment warning about a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, advising safety and quitting the job.

Comment warning about a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted, advising caution and awareness.

Comment discussing employer rights when a boss doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

Text explaining why a boss doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted due to company image and consequences.

Some folks shared similar stories

Text post sharing a personal story about a boss who doesn't want employee bikini pictures posted and harassment at work.

Screenshot of a text post discussing a boss who doesn’t want employee bikini pictures posted on social media.

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