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Brevard County, Fla. – Health First employees say they were recently sent a sweeping new social media policy that threatens disciplinary action, including termination, for posts that could be seen as damaging to the company’s reputation.
Screenshots of the policy, obtained by The Space Coast Rocket, show the rules cover six broad areas:
Purpose & Scope – Applies to all Health First associates across entities. Professional Conduct – Associates are responsible for what they post; content that “negatively impacts job performance, coworkers, customers, patients, patient visitors, or Health First’s reputation” may result in discipline up to termination.
Respect & Privacy – Requires courtesy, forbids sharing private/patient-related info, and bars posts deemed harassing or discriminatory.
Accuracy & Integrity – Employees must “avoid spreading false information” and correct mistakes promptly.
Representation – Employees cannot speak on behalf of Health First without authorization and must include disclaimers when referencing the company.
Personal Use During Work Hours – Employees are prohibited from using personal social media during working hours.
Employees Fear Speech Crackdown
One employee who shared the policy with The Space Coast Rocket said rule #2 is so vague it “means anything staff post could be used as grounds for firing.” Staff were instructed the rules apply across all platforms and at all times.
The timing has raised eyebrows. Health First faced backlash in recent weeks after internal outrage over staff posts referencing controversial political commentator Charlie Kirk. Critics argue the new policy is aimed at discouraging employees from expressing political views online—even on personal accounts.
First Amendment Questions
The rules are igniting debate about whether private employers like Health First can restrict employee speech. The First Amendment protects against government censorship, but private companies have wider leeway. Still, employees in Florida—and nationwide—are raising alarms that vague policies like this chill free expression.
In recent weeks, teachers across Florida have faced investigations or job actions over their posts about politics and culture wars, especially after the death of activist Chris Kirk. A Miami neurologist also came under fire after posting about state policy.
Political Pressure Behind the Scenes?
The broader question is whether health systems and schools are bowing to political pressure. Florida politicians including Rep. Randy Fine, have openly demanded accountability for educators, doctors, and state-licensed facilities over speech they dislike.
Critics say organizations like Health First may fear that failure to act against outspoken employees could result in state retaliation, such as loss of grants, contracts, or licenses.
“This isn’t just about one hospital,” a local source told The Space Coast Rocket. “It’s about a climate where employees across Florida feel they could lose their job just for speaking their mind.” How one interprets their words is extremely subjective and may not be in line with the poster’s intent.
What Comes Next
Health First has not publicly responded to questions about the new policy or whether it was prompted by recent controversies. For now, employees say they are on edge—facing the possibility that a single Facebook post or comment could cost them their careers.
