The Madras High Court has ruled that an employee is entitled to criticise their employer on social media, adding that it is in the interest of companies that workers can express complaints about their working lives.

Justice GR Swaminathan, found that the employee had only been exercising his “right to vent”, adding that sharing complaints can have a “cathartic effect”. The judge clarified, however, that management can intervene if online criticism genuinely impacts the organisation’s image.