Employer misconceptions of free speech protections in the workplace, strategies for risk management, and development of internal policies and enforcement will be examined at the 2017 CLM Management & Professional Liability Conference on July 27, 2017 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Robert Hellner, a partner at WSHB, joins Jeffrey Koonankeil, CapSpecialty and Alex Niederman, YorkPro, for the session titled, “Pitfalls of Political Talk – Risk Management Strategies.”
“We will discuss emerging claim and liability trends regarding political, race and religious speech and conduct in the workplace, including risks for management and fiduciaries,” said Hellner, a lead litigator for the firm's national employment practice group. “We will also review recent developments in the law regulating the use of social media during the hiring and evaluation process.”
Key takeaways from the session will include an improved understanding of employer rights and liabilities regarding political discourse in the workplace, strategies for risk management and best practices for assessing political discourse in the workplace, and a review of legal trends regarding protections afforded to political discourse on social media.
Hellner’s practice focuses on the defense of employment, professional liability and commercial litigation claims. As part of his employment practice, Hellner has handled and resolved hundreds of sensitive discrimination, harassment and wage claims for his clients and in multiple jurisdictions across the country. In the area of professional liability litigation, Hellner has successfully defended attorneys, accountants, insurance agents and design professionals.