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Companies trying to monitor -- and control -- what their employees are saying about them on Facebook, Twitter and other social media are finding their policies under attack from the Obama administration.

In a little-noticed advisory this month, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that six of the seven corporate social media policies it examined included provisions that failed to pass regulatory muster, proving too vague to enforce or too intrusive on their workers' right to free expression online.

The labor board memo is an attempt to balance the need by companies to preserve confidential financial and operating information versus the rights of employees to be able to discuss "terms and conditions" of their employment among themselves in the age of instant global access through social media.

The NLRB analysis took issue with one company's mandate that employees not "pick fights," stay away from controversial topics such as religion and politics, and adopt a "professional tone" in their use of social media.

"Discussions about working conditions or unionism have the potential to become just as heated or controversial as discussions about politics and religion," said acting NLRB General Counsel Lafe Solomon. "Without further clarification of what is 'objectionable or inflammatory,' employees could reasonably construe this rule to prohibit robust but protected discussions about working conditions or unionism."

The NLRB memo -- the third that the independent agency has issued on the broad topic of social media -- has business groups throwing up their hands in confusion, wondering what exactly they can do to control what their employees say and do on social media.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) said the NLRB's guidance on social media policies is "likely to be challenged in the courts," because it is so ridiculous.

"The NLRB was troubled by social media policy clauses that recommended: 'Adopt a friendly tone when engaging online. Don't pick fights. Social media is about conversations,'" SHRM pointed out in a blog post.

The SHRM analysis accused the labor board of taking a "sledgehammer" to company policies on social media.

Seeking control

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Companies Cry Foul Over Social Media Policies