Social Media and Free Speech in the Workplace
Register at: https://www.njlera.org
Program
Social media continues to blur the lines between protected speech, employee misconduct, and employer oversight. This program will examine how New Jersey public employers and employees should navigate online activity in light of the First Amendment, statutory protections, transparency laws, and discipline standards.
The panel will address, among other topics:
First Amendment protections and limits on public employee social media activity
The impact of the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA)
OPRA implications arising from social media use, messaging platforms, and personal devices
When online speech crosses the line into discipline-worthy conduct
Drafting, enforcing, and defending social media policies in public employment
Panelists
Jonathan F. Cohen, Esq. (Plosia Cohen LLC) – Management attorney, representing public employers across New Jersey in labor, employment, and OPRA matters
Walter Luers, Esq. (Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP) – Employee rights and OPRA practitioner, with extensive experience advocating for public employees and transparency
James Gant, Borough Manager, Borough of Red Bank, bringing a practical manager’s perspective on policy development, enforcement, and employee discipline
This program is designed for attorneys, labor representatives, public managers, HR professionals, and public employees seeking practical guidance on how social media law is being applied on the ground in New Jersey.
We hope you will join us for an engaging and timely discussion.
Date
March 19, 2026
Time
5:30 P.M. Registration and Informal Reception
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:00 – 8:30 P.M. Program
Location
IL CASTELLO’S RESTAURANT
81 MAIN ST
WOODBRIDGE, NJ 07095
Event Fee
Chapter Members $20.00
Non-Members $40.00
Register at: https://www.njlera.org
Membership
You must log in to get the member discount.
If you are not a NJ LERA Chapter member (which is different from the National LERA membership), we encourage you to join. If you are a member, we encourage you to renew when your membership expires. We have dropped the price to attend meetings for members to $60. The non-member price remains the same at $75. We are also working on some website enhancements to make membership in NJ LERA even more valuable. Announcements about those will be forthcoming.
The New Jersey Chapter of LERA is a unique organization of professionals from New Jersey and contiguous states interested in labor & employment relations and human resource management. The chapter includes members from the management, labor, neutral (including arbitrators and mediators), government, and academic fields.