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Beyond The Water Cooler: Speech And The Workplace In An Era Of Social Media, Ann Mcginley, Ryan Mcginley-Stempel

Ann McGinley

Abstract

BEYOND THE WATER COOLER: SPEECH AND THE WORKPLACE IN AN ERA OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Ann C. McGinley & Ryan McGinley-Stempel

Few would dispute the proposition that free speech and association play an important role in the operation of a healthy democracy. Private workplaces, however, are an important exception. Even though as a nation we profess to honor free speech as one of our most important values, in the employment context, the law often willingly restricts employee speech in favor of the employer’s interests in efficient management. When civil society was clearly distinct from the workplace, this was less problematic. …