Ten years ago, employers struggled to adapt their policies to the internet and email. Today, the new frontier is social media. New social media technologies and new avenues of communication have created new legal risks, and with those new risks the potential for disputes over employer responsibility for social media policy enforcement has increased.  

Although each workplace is different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to social media, it is critical for employers to recognize the applicable legal boundaries and, at a minimum, provide some reasonable guidelines for employee conduct. With the rise of cyber-bullying and textual harassment, employers are struggling to keep up and craft a social media policy that does not run afoul of the law.

This webinar will provide an overview of the federal and state laws which restrict or affect the employer’s rights and obligations in the world of social media.  Lafe Solomon, Acting General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), will provide the latest guidance on what types of social media comments by employees are considered protected concerted activity.  The webinar will also reference practical examples drawn from actual cases, and identify the types of social media policies which have been found to be acceptable (and illegal) by the NLRB in limiting employee speech.

In addition, David Barron, an employment lawyer from Cozen O’Connor, will address trending legal issues associated with social media in the workplace, including:

• Cyber bullying and the employer’s obligation to address complaints of online harassment or discrimination
• The legal risks of management friending subordinate employees
• Conducting background investigations on applicants via social media and the internet
• New state laws prohibiting employers from obtaining employee passwords for social media sites
• Best practices for policies limiting employee rights to post pictures and video from workplace online
• Protecting trade secrets and limiting employee disclosure of confidential information

Register quickly and easily online to secure your space now. Or, please call 1-800-372-1033 option 6, then sub-menu option 1, and refer to date and title of conference. Lines are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, excluding most federal holidays.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear a lively, dynamic presentation. Not only are Webinars an excellent way for you to stay current; with Bloomberg BNA you also get:

•  Quality. Count on it. Nothing is canned.
•  Objectivity. Bloomberg BNA provides you with the best and most objective information. Unlike other companies, we don't use our Webinars as a forum to sell outside solutions.
•  Affordability. Bloomberg BNA Webinars are inexpensive compared to the cost of travel to attend a conference. Plus, you may use a speakerphone and invite as many of your colleagues as you want to listen in-all for the price of a single registration.
•  Convenience. No airlines. No travel. No time out of the office.

In addition, you'll receive:

•  Personal attention. Once you've registered, send your questions in advance to sharper@bna.com and they'll be included in the program. You'll also have a chance to ask your questions during the Webinar.
•  Follow-up materials. You need no materials upfront to follow along to our live conference. But Bloomberg BNA always issues a follow up e-mail with contact information for our speakers, as well as other materials related to the topic.
•  1.5 HRCI credits by attending this Webinar. Find out how.  
    

Lafe Solomon, Acting General Counsel for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and David Barron, Employment Lawyer at Cozen O’Connor