Class Assignment $-$ Employee Rights

As we have learned in this module, it is difficult to determine where one's rights end and another's responsibility begins. As an HR professional there are laws that guide us on what is legal behavior $-$ for both an employer and an employee. It is sometimes difficult for folks to navigate what they can and can't do$.$ It mostly makes sense but sometimes it isn't intuitive. Having an employee handbook that is clear, concise, accessible and understandable is the key to getting everyone on the same page. Training can help also.

There are three objectives for this assignment:

$1.$ We are looking at employee rights and development of an HR policy.

$2.$ We are getting to network with each other in a smaller setting. Spend some time in your breakout meeting to get to know each other.

$3.$ Learning comes in many forms $-$ including learning from other students. This assignment gives each of you an opportunity to share your thoughts with other learners in your group.

Case Scenario

The day she started her new job at a daycare center, Kaitlin Wells posted on social media, $$I just really hate being around kids all day.$$ Twenty$-$seven hours later, she was unemployed again. You can read the Washington Post article

Download You can read the Washington Post article.

Laws protect an employee from being fired for voicing their political beliefs, assembling with other employees to protest or strike, volunteering at civic organizations or smoking and drinking outside of working hours. But social media adds a whole new dimension to employee rights and responsibilities.

While an employer is prohibited from firing an employee for the above$-$mentioned activities, social media is different. As we discussed in the text, making statements that are $$egregiously offensive or knowingly and maliciously false,$$ or $$publicly disparaging your employer$$s products or services without relating your complaints to any labor controversy$$ is not protected concerted activity.

Questions

$1)$ What do you see as the issue here?

$2)$ What could each of the parties have done differently?

$3)$ Your team has been asked to develop a social media policy for your company. What elements would you include? Come up with $5$ or $6$ items.