New York State Bar Association tackles social media and free speech in the workplace

March 20, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

NYSBA to address social media and free speech rights in the workplace at an upcoming CLE on March 25.
Photo: dole777/Unsplash

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The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) is set to host a critical Continuing Legal Education Course titled “‘Free Speech’ in the Workplace: Social Media, Off-Duty Conduct, and Political Speech,” that aims to delve into the complex legal and practical issues surrounding employee speech on social media.

The NYSBA explained that it felt the CLE was necessary due to increasing tensions and disputes arising from political speech within the workplace, particularly fueled by recent conflicts in the Middle East.

Scheduled for March 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, the program seeks to provide essential guidance for both employers and employees navigating the often murky waters of free speech rights in a professional setting.

“While everyone has the right to free speech, it is important for employers and employees to know its limits,” said Richard Lewis, president of the NYSBA. “This program is a must for anyone looking for real-world guidance on handling these contentious issues in the workplace.”

The educational panel will feature esteemed legal professionals, including Sara Kula, an employment attorney, mediator, and arbitrator at Kula Law; Greg Reilly, a labor and employment attorney at Bond, Schoeneck & King; and Jennie Woltz, a founding partner and employment and labor attorney at Woltz & Folkinshteyn.

Sara Kula will serve as the moderator for the discussion, which will focus on legal protections, anti-discrimination laws, and employee rights related to free speech under the National Labor Relations Act and New York Labor Law.