Facebook Backfires: The NLRB, the EEOC and Your Social Media Policy(BWN)

Tuesday, November 22 at 3:00 pm ET
(2:00 CT, 1:00 MT, 12:00 PT)
Duration: 90 minutes

Can an employee be fired for using social media to bully a co-worker? Not in Hispanics United of Buffalo, the NLRB's first official ruling in the rising wave of costly labor litigation involving social media use.

Can you lawfully monitor employee behavior using social media? Not without restriction, the EEOC has ruled.

This freshly updated webinar will help you answer two vital questions:

1. Are my company's social media policies adequate -- and legally enforceable -- to protect my company from the threat of damaging communications involving harassment, discrimination, libel, trade secrets and loss of reputation?

2. How do Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) and other privacy regulations impact our use of social media for employment screening?

In this 90-minute live presentation for employers, attorneys and HR managers, you will learn:

• The legal limits of a social media policy
• The extent to which you must tolerate extracurricular speech by employees
• How far can employers go in regulating off-duty conduct
• What you should do if you inadvertently obtain information on Facebook protected by GINA
• Best practices regarding employee monitoring to protect your business
• The NLRB's four-part test to ascertain legality of employment policies.
• Essential steps to drafting social media policies that work for your company.
• What to do -- and not do -- when social media postings disparage your company, products or reputation

Social Media: Risks and Realities

From the latest Proskauer employment survey:

• 48% of employers lack a social media policy for their employees
• 75% promote their goods and services using social media
• 29% block employee access to social media sites
• 27% monitor employee of social media
• 43% have dealt with misuse of social media by employees

It's no wonder social media related cases are the new hot zone for employment litigation.

POLICY TOOLKIT: We have reviewed more than 100 workplace policies implemented by leading companies doing business in the U.S. You will receive policy creation guidelines, sample policies and case reviews of some of the better known cases in which employees have contested termination decisions involving social media activities.

SPECIAL BONUS FROM AVANT -- Attendees will receive sample written policies including: Company and Non-Company Use of Social Media and Internet Resources and Voice Mail, Email, Internet Access and Computer Files Policy. These policies can be invaluable while reviewing or establishing your workplace rules regarding information, communication and privacy practices.

Your Presenter

Brent Ballow has over 20 years of legal experience in the area of labor and employee relations matters. Mr. Ballow has been a leader in social media risk awareness and due to demand has recently produced an employee training video, Social Media: Risks and Realities. He is a frequent speaker and trainer throughout the country on labor and employment issues, including the ADA, the FMLA, Privacy in the Workplace, Discrimination Laws, Labor Relations, and Wage and Hour Laws.

This event will be presented live by phone with a web connection available for those wishing to view the presentation on their personal computers. Internet access is not required for phone-only participants.