Social Networking Websites: Employment Law Pitfalls
Avoiding Discrimination, Violation of Privacy, and Fair Credit Reporting Act Claims
Recording of a 90-minute CLE teleconference with Q&A
Conducted on Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Recorded event now available
This seminar will examine the legal risks of using information obtained from social networking websites in making employment decisions. The panel will outline best practices for employers and their counsel to minimize liability exposure.
Description
The use of social and professional networking websites, such as Facebook®, MySpace®, and LinkedIn®, has exploded. Employers are increasingly tapping into these sites to learn about job applicants and current employees — and using that information to make important employment decisions.
Businesses that use social networking sites to research current and prospective workers must balance their interest in conducting a thorough background check against the myriad legal rights of applicants and employees.
Counsel for employers who use or want to use information from such sites must be prepared to evaluate the benefits of obtaining information this way against the potential liabilities for its misuse. Counsel should also assist with developing effective employment policies involving the sites.
Listen as our panel of employment law attorneys examines the potential legal pitfalls for employers arising from using information obtained from social network sites to make critical employment decisions. The panel will offer strategies for employers to minimize liability exposure.
Outline
- Current legal trends
- Risks of using social networking websites in employment decisions
- Discrimination
- Privacy concerns
- Fair credit reporting laws
- Off-duty conduct statutes
- Union collective bargaining agreements
- Best practices to minimize litigation risks
- Develop written policies on what information can be collected and used
- Enforce policies consistently and uniformly
- Train managers, supervisors and employees on company policy
- Considerations when using recruiters in hiring — joint employer liability
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- What information from social networking websites can employers legally use when making employment decisions?
- How can businesses balance their duty to conduct due diligence background checks on applicants and employees against their duty not to discriminate in employment decisions?
- What are the best practices for companies to develop and implement policies regarding the use of social networking sites in employment decisions?
Faculty
Marcia N. Jackson,
Counsel
Wick Phillips, Dallas
Her practice includes employment and labor law, counseling, training and internal investigations. She assists clients in avoiding litigation through regular training, policy updates and implementation. She also handles FLSA wage and hour collective actions and class action discrimination lawsuits filed under Title VII.
Wayne E. Pinkstone,
Partner
Fox Rothschild, Lawrenceville, N.J.
He focuses his practice in labor and employment matters with significant experience in assisting in-house counsel, human resources executives and company officials in identifying and solving workplace legal issues. His clients include employers in the health care, manufacturing, service, retail, technology and financial industries. He also defends employers in wage and hour collective actions.
Christopher J. Murphy,
Partner
Saul Ewing, Philadelphia
His experience includes the defense of employment discrimination and wrongful discharge claims, drafting employment contracts and separation agreements, disputes concerning restrictive covenants and trade secret issues, drafting employee handbooks and personnel policies, unemployment and workers’ compensation claims, and counseling employers on issues affecting the employment relationship.
Ordering
Online CLE - Audio Recording
Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).
CLE:
Pre-approved for participatory or non-traditional/alternate format credit in: CA, HI*, NY*, WV*.
Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
Upon request, also available in: CO, CT*, FL, GA, ID, KY, LA*, ME, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR*, SC, TN, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for credit in one of these states, make sure to select those states when placing your order.
(*Indicates that Strafford must report attendance.)
Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event
Recorded Event
Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).
CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)
MP3 Download (Audio Only) $49.00
Available 24 hours after the live event
CD $49.00
plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event
CLE Credit
Strafford's live seminars qualify for CLE in every state that accredits webinars. They offer you a high quality, cost effective, and convenient CLE option, with no lost travel time or expenses.
Customer Reviews
The seminar was very well-organized, managed excellently and informative.
Julia Szadkowski
Equifax Canada Inc.
Another great job by Strafford!
Jessica Brown
Gibson Dunn
The subject matter presented was very relevant to my practice.
Nineveh Alkhas
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg
The webinar was very easy to use and I liked that the speakers were very knowledgeable.
E. Moses Vejil
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
Length was ideal and the topic was timely. Excellent!
Jeanette Henderson
University of Washington
Employment & ERISA Advisory Board
Partner
Littler Mendelson
Partner
Perkins Coie
Partner
Wick Phillips
Shareholder
Littler Mendelson
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig
Partner
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Partner
Gladstone Michel Weisberg Willner & Sloane
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig
Our Guarantee
Strafford webinars and teleconferences are backed by our 100% Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee: if you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. For more information regarding complaints and refunds, please contact us at 1-800-926-7926 ext 10.