How Unions and Attorney Are Using the Web For Leverage
By
Relationship Advice Expert April MasiniQ: Dear April Masini,
The Service Employees International Union's recently-launched site, www.doeswackenhutdiscriminate.com, and a new site against megalithic company Walmart, www.wakeupwalmart.com, have been created to bring attention to these companies treatment of employees. I've heard of many unions and lawyers using these sites in finding plaintiffs in cases related to employment law claims. Should employers be worried, and will there be an increase in lawsuits or employee dissatisfaction?
Sincerely,
Working Woman
A:
Dear Working Woman,
The internet community is just as much a community as any neighborhood with streets, blocks, grocery stores and bus stops. Picket lines in front of a building will soon wield less clout that messages on the web --- either on sites, blogs or message boards.
Should employers be worried?
Worried? No. Aware? Yes.
Workplace policy needs to be developed for what is appropriate to say and access at work or at home about work. The first amendment is going to be tested on the web, and so is privacy law. I've been seeing it for some time with dating relationships, and now, employers are seeing the same dynamic with work grievances and also accolades.
Will this trend actually result in an increase in lawsuits or employee dissatisfaction/disloyalty?
Growing pains are inevitable. There will be an increase in lawsuits as the legal system stretches to include law that encompasses the web and web communications.
What can HR do about it, if anything?
Being prepared is the best way to have some control of your company. Keep channels of communication open and stay on your toes. Implement policy about internet, e-mail, instant messaging, and other forms of technology communication and be prepared to re-implement that policy as technology continues to boom.
What do employment-law attorneys recommend?
I'm a relationship expert, but I can assure you that employment law attorneys are going to have to stretch as the law does to encompass this trend.
April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas,
and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.
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