RPJ’s Alice K. Jump Quoted in HR Brew Article on Employer Responses to Controversial Employee Online Speech

Alice K. Jump was recently quoted in an HR Brew article regarding employer responses to controversial employee online speech. This comes following the disciplinary consequences some employees across the country faced following their posts on social media of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

According to Ms. Jump, “[i]f the private employees are publishing complaints about the workplace work conditions, that’s protected by the National Labor Relations Act, that’s a protected activity[.]” However, she notes one of the most important safeguards is maintaining a politically neutral social media policy.

“We always advise clients to have a politically neutral policy regarding social media. If it’s disruptive, and if the posts are discriminatory or inappropriate in a sort of sexual or discriminatory way, then they can be regulated,” Ms. Jump said. At the same time, she also suggested that a policy should “be pretty narrow and not too intrusive on employees’ private opinions or communications.”

To read the full article click here.

This article is intended as a general discussion of these issues only and is not to be considered legal advice or relied upon. For more information, please contact RPJ Partner Alice K. Jump who counsels clients on litigation, alternative dispute resolution and business counseling, with particular emphasis on representing clients in the financial services and real estate industries as well as educational and non-profit institutions. Ms. Jump is admitted to practice law in New York and before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.