By Brian Norris

After being notified that her long-term sick leave benefits were being discontinued, Nathalie Blanchard might be reconsidering her use of the networking site, Facebook. In a recent CBC news piece, Ms. Blanchard claimed her insurer asserted she was “available to work, because of Facebook”.

Issues arose when Blanchard, off work after being diagnosed with depression, published photos on her Facebook page showing her having a good time at several events including a Chippendales bar show, her birthday party, and vacationing on a sunny beach.

As always, employees need to take notice of this example and previous ones and reconsider the what they publish on the social networking sites.

Brian Norris is the office manager at Whitten & Lublin LLP, an employment law office providing counsel to both employers and employees on a wide range of workplace law matters.