Employment Series - Freedom of Speech in the Workplace
About this webinar
September 29th is the night of the first presidential debates between President Trump and challenger Joe Biden. This close presidential race stands out as the most contentious in modern times and the followers of each candidate are not likely to limit their expressions and feelings to nonworking times and nonworking areas.
In addition, the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements are strong winds swirling across all walks of life, including the workplace. For example, WholeFoods is currently embroiled in litigation concerning its enforcement of its workplace expression policy. There are lessons in that litigation for other entities trying to get ahead of these issues and keep politics and social issues away from their customers and workers.
Should employers have a “social issues†policy? If so what would it include? What are the enforcement issues? Are their statutes or other protections concerning the right to protest and express beliefs and feelings? What does the employer do when coworkers, customers, vendors or others disagree and that disagreement impacts the workplace?
This webinar will examine the legal and practical issues faced by employers seeking to regulate political and social expressions in the workplace and how to handle allegations of misconduct stemming from the turbulence taking place in society.
Event Details:
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Louis Di Lorenzo, Moderator, Bond, Schoeneck & King
Louis has practiced labor and employment law for more than 40 years and is managing member of the firm's New York City office. Louis represents employers and management in all aspects of labor and employment law. His areas of experience include collective bargaining, workplace investigations, NLRB proceedings, labor audits, supervisory training, wage and hour issues, arbitration, jury trials in both state and federal courts, wage incentive plans, OFCCP audits and proceedings, employment litigation before the EEOC and the Human Rights Division and alternative dispute resolution techniques. Louis also serves several insurance companies as panel counsel (e.g., AIG and Chubb) with respect to employment litigation matters. From 2002-2004, he served as General Counsel and Secretary to Agway, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company.
Candace Gomez, Partner, Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC
Candace represents school districts, private schools, colleges, universities, corporations and individuals. She has successfully represented clients in the courts of New York State, federal court, New York State Education Department impartial hearings, New York State Commissioner of Education appeals, and U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations. Candace has provided general counsel services and litigation services to some of the largest school districts and universities in New York State. Her experience includes policy development, contracts, school board elections, employee disciplinary proceedings, student residency requirements, special education and student disciplinary hearings. She also has extensive experience defending clients in a variety of civil litigation matters.
