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Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics | 633 17
th
Street,
Suite 600 | Denver, Colorado 80202-2107
Main: (303) 318-8441 | Toll Free: 1-888-390-7936 | Fax: (303) 318-8400
www.colorado.gov/cdle/socialmedia
Social Media Complaint Instructions
(for use with violations of the Colorado Social Media and the Workplace Law, § 8-2-127, C.R.S.)
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment | Division of Labor Standards and Statistics
www.colorado.gov/cdle/socialmedia
What is a social media complaint?
A social media complaint is a written complaint filed with the Division against your current or prospective employer
for violations of the Colorado Social Media and the Workplace Law. The complaint form may be used when an
applicant or employee believes that their employer or potential employer improperly accessed their personal social
media accounts, in violation of the law.
What is the Social Media and the Workplace law?
The Colorado Social Media and the Workplace Law prevents employers from accessing your personal social media
accounts. The law applies to actions taken on or after May 11, 2013.
According to the law, employers may not:
1) suggest, request, or require that an employer or applicant disclose, or cause an employee or applicant to
disclose, any user name, password, or other means for accessing the employee’s or applicant’s personal account
or service through the employee’s or applicant’s personal electronic communications device;
2) compel an employee or applicant to add anyone, including the employer or his or her agent, to the employee’s
or applicant’s list of contacts associated with a social media account;
3) require, request, suggest, or cause an employee or applicant to change privacy settings associated with a social
networking account.
For more information on the Social Media and the Workplace Law, please refer to the Division’s Social Media
Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions on the website www.colorado.gov/cdle/socialmedia
Can I file a social media complaint with the Division?
Yes, if you are an applicant or employee working or applying to work in Colorado, and the employer is not the
Department of Corrections, County Corrections Departments, or a state or local law enforcement agency.
The Division may have the authority to assist you on the
The Division does not have authority to assist you on the
• Employer suggested, requested, or required that you
disclose, or caused you to disclose any user name,
password, or other means for accessing your personal
social media account through your personal electronic
communications device.
• Employer compelled you to add anyone, including the
employer or his or her agent, to your list of contacts
associated with your personal social media account.
• Employer required, suggested, or caused you to
change the privacy settings associated with your
personal social networking account.
• Employer discharged, disciplined, or otherwise
penalized or threatened to discharge, discipline, or
otherwise penalize you (the employee) for your refusal
to disclose social media information, or refusal to add
• Employer accessed information about you that is publicly
available online.
• Employer required you to disclose any user name,
password, or other means for accessing nonpersonal (e.g.,
the employer’s) accounts or services that provide access
to the employer’s internal computer or information
systems.
• Employer conducted an investigation to ensure
compliance with applicable securities or financial law or
regulatory requirements based on the receipt of
information about the use of a personal website, internet
website, web-based account, or similar account by you for
business purposes.
• Employer investigated your electronic communications
based on the receipt of information about the
