Join us for our consistently popular and informative annual "Best Practices for Best Employers™" labor and employment webinar series. Crafted for in-house counsel, HR professionals and employers of all sizes, this series is ideal for those who are eager to stay at the forefront of employment best practices and the changing policies that will continue to shape the rapidly evolving workplace. Access the full series schedule »
Session Description
Frequent protests involving the 2020 political campaign, Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 require that employers construct a plan on managing speech in the workplace.
This session reviews:
- Is there “freedom of speech” in the private workplace?
- What types of “concerted activity” employee speech are protected by the National Labor Relations Act?
- Does an employee have the right to “drop the F-bomb” when speaking with the employer?
- What types of policies (like non-solicitation policies) are effective in the workplace to manage employee political speech?
- Are there limits to a private employer’s political speech in the workplace?
Speakers
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Blake Barnes | Microsoft | Senior Attorney
Blake is a Senior Attorney at Microsoft, managing and defending employment litigation brought against Microsoft. Her experience covers all areas of workplace litigation, including discrimination/harassment/retaliation, wage/hour, FMLA, ADA, and all types of class actions brought by employees against employers. Blake has 25 years of experience providing advice to HR and management, as well as managing people and programs. |
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D. Michael Reilly | Lane Powell | Labor, Employment & Benefits Team Co-Chair
Mike is a nationally recognized labor, employment and employee benefits attorney, named one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation” by Human Resource Executive® and is the 2021 Best Lawyers®, Seattle "Lawyer of the Year", for employment-related litigation. He has represented clients in more than 75 jury trials, arbitrations, bench trials and claims before the EEOC and Washington State Human Rights Commission. Employers retain Mike for his strategic advice and decades of experience in employment issues and litigation, business decisions and litigation avoidance. Mike provides advice in claims involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, disability accommodation and much more. |