What responsibility does a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee have regarding their employees' use of social media?
Benjamin_Franklin_Plumbing Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are responsible for ensuring that your employees understand the policies relating to the use of social media and you are responsible for your employees' use of social media in accordance with such policies. We have the right to require that social media accounts, profiles, pages, and registrations that primarily promote the Marks or your Franchised Business be registered in our name. For any such accounts that we permit to be registered in your name, you agree to provide us with the current login credentials within five days after opening the account or changing the credentials. We have the rights to: (i) access any social media accounts to take corrective action if the account or any postings are in violation of our policies; and (ii) take ownership of the accounts on expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement and operate them thereafter as we see fit.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 46–57)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for their employees' social media usage. Specifically, franchisees must ensure their employees understand and adhere to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's policies regarding social media.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing maintains brand advertising guidelines and standards that extend to electronic communications. These standards may include disclaimers, warnings, and other statements. Franchisees must ensure their employees are aware of these standards and that their social media activity aligns with them.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing also has the right to access social media accounts primarily promoting the brand or the franchisee's business to take corrective action if the account or any postings violate their policies. They can also take ownership of these accounts upon expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement. This highlights the importance of franchisees monitoring their employees' social media activities to ensure compliance and protect the brand's reputation.
In practice, this means a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchisee needs to actively train and supervise employees on appropriate social media conduct related to the business. This includes what they can post, how they represent the brand, and ensuring they do not violate any advertising standards set by Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. The franchisee should also be prepared to provide login credentials for social media accounts to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and relinquish ownership of those accounts if the franchise agreement ends.