Social media - is my employer really allowed to do this?

[Cydonia]

I’ve got myself into trouble at work for commenting on a Facebook post which was then shown to management who took a dim view of my comments. Personally I don’t really see the problem, they were only very mildly critical of the company and it wasn’t obvious that I worked for them. Anyway, I have to have a meeting to discuss my breach of the social media policy. I’ve never seen this, so thought I’d better familiarise myself.
I was a bit shocked to find this -
“ The organisation reserves the right to monitor employees’ internet usage, but will endeavour to inform an employee when this is to happen and the reasons for it. “ It goes on to say what they consider valid reasons for this, and then that they reserve the right to retain any information for a period of one year?
Can they honestly do this?! Bearing in mind I wasn’t using a work computer, or even at work at the time. Just seems very controlling.

[Oblomov19]

Op seems deluded. She keeps claiming she didn't 'slag them off'. So you wrote nothing negative? It was 100% positive?
Nope. Thought not.

[JustHereForThePooStories]

They don't actually, especially since GPDR

Please do explain this. What personal data has the company collected and processed?

It is it another “coz GDPR” post?

[prh47bridge]

They don't actually, especially since GPDR

GDPR does not in any way prevent an employer looking at things their employees post publicly on social media.

[SwoopTheJackpot]

they were only very mildly critical of the company
You were on social media slagging off your employer's business. Of course they want it removed. You'll be lucky if there isn't disciplinary action against you.

[Bluntness100]

I think it's common sense you shouldn't be posting negative things publicly about your own employer. I mean cmon.

Yes you've a right to privacy and an opinion, but when you go public on social media with your opinions then you are no longer private. And if your opinion is negative then I think it's fair they investigate it. You don't need to be an ambassador for your company, but they also are within their rights to take a dim view of their employees being negative about them publicly.

[DGRossetti]

What people should do is: have two sets of social media accounts

The problem with that is the "anonymous" one - which by definition won't have any connections/friends - then looks like it was specifically set up to publicly criticise companies anonymously. Which can backfire if the author can then be identified as working for that company as it looks even worse than an accidental gaffe. It looks calculated and malicious - definitely P45 material.

[safariboot]

@Cydonia the policy you quote in your OP will be relevant to your use of the company's internet (including wifi you connect your personal mobile etc to) or computers. And is pretty standard - their internet connection, their computers, their rules.

Social media policy will be separate.