Social Media & The Workplace: recent NLRB developments Megan Erickson Moritz BrownWinick 666 Grand...
24
Social Media & The Workplace: recent NLRB developments Megan Erickson Moritz BrownWinick 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 2000 Des Moines, IA 50309- 2510 Telephone: 515-242-2455 Facsimile: 515-323-8555 E-mail: [email protected]
-
Upload
cleopatra-delphia-mills -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of Social Media & The Workplace: recent NLRB developments Megan Erickson Moritz BrownWinick 666 Grand...
Social Media & The Workplace: recent NLRB developments
Megan Erickson MoritzBrownWinick
666 Grand Avenue, Suite 2000Des Moines, IA 50309-2510Telephone: 515-242-2455Facsimile: 515-323-8555
E-mail: [email protected]
Disclaimer
Please note, nothing in this presentation constitutes legal advice. The information is offered only for informational or educational purposes, and it should not be relied upon as, or substituted for, legal advice.
RECENT NLRB DEVELOPMENTS RE: SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE WORKPLACE
“The National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency vested with the
power to safeguard employees' rights to organize and to determine whether to have
unions as their bargaining representative. The agency also acts to prevent and remedy
unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions.”
Recent NLRB Action Re: Social Media Reports from NLRB’s Office of General
Counsel
•“Enforcement arm” of NLRB Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Decisions
•Initial decision, subject to Board review Board Decisions
•If party appeals ALJ decision Court Decisions
•If Board decision appealed
•Federal courts
Recent Developments
June 24, 2013: US Supreme Court granted cert in NLRB v. Noel Canning.• Validity of 3 recess appointments by the
President in January of 2012
July 30, 2013: Full confirmation of all 5 nominees to the NLRB• First time in a decade the Board has full roster
Recent NLRB Action Re: Social Media NLRB - Report of the General Counsel
• Aug 18, 2011
• Jan 24, 2012
• May 30, 2012 Various ALJ Decisions NLRB Decisions
• Sep 7, 2012
• Sep 28, 2012
Recent NLRB Action Re: Social MediaSection 7 of the National Labor
Relations Act (NLRA): “protected concerted activity”
•For the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid & protection
Recent NLRB Action Re: Social MediaIs the Employee activity
protected?Protected Section 7 Activity
•Examples
•Considerations
Recent NLRB Reports Re: Social Media
Unlawful discipline or response to social media activity?
Overbroad social media policy?
NLRB & Social Media Policies Analysis of employers’ social media
policies &workplace rules Usual issue: reasonably construed to
prohibit Section 7 activity?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Non-Disparagement Provisions?
Social Media Policies/NLRA ParametersProhibiting Unprofessional,
Inappropriate, or Disrespectful Communications?
NLRB Decisions . . . Costco: “damage the Co., defame any individual
or damage any person’s reputation” = BAD Knauz BMW: “No one should be disrespectful or
use profanity or any other language which injures the image or reputation of the ER” = BAD
Costco: requiring “appropriate business decorum” = OK
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Prohibiting Communications Re: Work-Related Concerns?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Confidentiality or Nondisclosure Provisions?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Prohibiting Use or Depiction of Company Name, Logo, or Intellectual Property?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Prohibit from Identifying Themselves as Employees?
Prohibit from using Employer name, address, or other info on personal profiles?
Note: FTC Guidance
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Requiring Employee Disclaimers?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Employer Disclaimers?
Social Media Policies/NLRA Parameters
Prohibit Employees from pressuring coworkers to connect via social media?
Social Media Policies
Ask: Reasonably construed to restrict Section 7 activity?
Social Media Policies Careful drafting Examples Limiting language
Social Media PoliciesKeep in mind other considerations
DISCLAIMER: No oral or written statement made by BrownWinick attorneys should be interpreted by the recipient as suggesting a need to obtain legal counsel from BrownWinick or any other firm, nor as suggesting a need to take legal action. Do not attempt to solve individual problems upon the basis of general information provided by any BrownWinick attorney, as slight changes in fact situations may cause a material change in legal result.
Megan Erickson [email protected]
www.socialnetworkinglawblog.comwww.workplacewise.com Twitter - @erickson_meg
Web: www.brownwinick.com Toll Free Phone: 1-888-282-3515
BROWNWINICK OFFICE LOCATIONS:DES MOINES PELLA666 Grand Avenue, Suite 2000 616 Franklin PlaceDes Moines, Iowa 50309-2510 Pella, Iowa 50219Telephone: (515) 242-2400 Telephone: (641) 628-4513Facsimile: (515) 283-0231 Facsimile: (641) 628-8494
