When Employees Go Viral: Speech Within and Outside of the Workplace

The recent "Google Memo" unleashed a heated debate about the limits of employee expression both within and outside of the workplace. While the First Amendment generally prohibits the government -- not private employers -- from curtailing a person's free speech rights, there are a host of important factors relating to self-expression that employers should consider -- from both legal and cultural perspectives. 

Please join us as we explore these timely, thought-provoking and important issues. Labor and employment attorney Anne Villanueva will address the following questions in this critical area of employee relations:

• What is the legal landscape with respect to employee expression in the workplace of private employers?
• Do any laws speak to private employers' rights, obligations, and limitations with respect to the regulation of employee speech outside of the workplace?
• Do California and federal laws regarding employee speech differ, and if so, in what respects?
• What policies and procedures should companies consider with respect to employee speech within and outside of the workplace?
• In what ways have federal and state laws changed in connection with the growth of the Internet as a medium of employee speech?
• What are some "best practices" a company should follow when faced with a public controversy arising out of an employee's self-expression?

Locations:

For your convenience, this session will be offered in two locations:

(1) Peninsula Location (live)

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
525 University Avenue, 14th Floor
Palo Alto, CA 94301

(2) South Bay Location (live via videoconference)

Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
60 South Market Street
12th Floor Conference Center
San Jose, CA 95113

RSVP: Please use the REGISTER link below, no later than March 12

If questions or to cancel a reservation, contact [email protected] to avoid being charged.

Speaker: 

Anne Villanueva, associate attorney with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

Anne Villanueva counsels clients on a broad range of employment matters, including employment-related issues arising out of U.S. and multinational corporate transactions, executive employment agreements and separation agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, reductions-in-force, discrimination charges and lawsuits, collective bargaining agreements and internal investigations. Ms. Villanueva has been a member of Skadden’s Hispanic and Women’s affinity groups since she joined the firm in 2012.

We appreciate the generous support of our chapter sponsors. Thank you!

Be sure to meet all of our distinguished Chapter Business Partners -- building a positive business relationship and understanding their services is advantageous when you need a product or service at a moment's notice. Business partners are an important resource for legal management professionals to perform their jobs, plan for the future, and build their knowledge about changes and trends in products and services for the success of their firms.

Education Credit:

1 hour in the subject area of Human Resources Management  (HR)  towards the additional hours required of some Functional Specialists to fulfill the CLM application.

1 hour in the subject area of Human Resources Management  (HR)