Drafting and Implementing an Effective Social Media Policy
Social media has been both a blessing and a curse for the fire service, but one thing is undeniable: social media with all its problems is here to stay. The law that applies to social media has been evolving and continues to evolve, with new cases arising daily. Emerging are important principles that fire service leaders and firefighters can use to avoid the pitfalls that can lead to firefighters being terminated or social media policies being struck down.
This program will review the latest social media cases affecting the fire service, and the important lessons learned. These lessons will then be connected to recommended policy language for an effective and legally defensible social media policy.
Attendees will receive course materials that includes a model social media policy that can be customized in class. Copies of the most important cases will also be provided.
Program Outline
1. Case Studies - Intro
2. First Amendment Protection
3. Concerted Activities Protection
4. Case Studies – Review
5. Model Policy Language: drafting your social media policy
6. Training Issues
Cost: $75 per person
Group discounts are available. Email me for details: curtvarone@gmail.com
Why this webinar will help you:
Courts routinely strike down well intentioned social media policies because they restrict speech under an important principle known as prior restraint. This puts fire service leaders in a bind because even well-intentioned policies aimed at protecting firefighters can run afoul of the First Amendment.
Without clear policy guidance, firefighters find themselves in a situation where there are no rules... until AFTER something is posted that causes a controversy. By then it may be too late to save their career.
There is a solution. Understanding the First Amendment is not rocket science. It is actually a fascinating subject and once the principles are understood, guidance to firefighters becomes much easier. This program focuses on what the First Amendment requires, and how fire service policies can provide the kind of guidance needed without running afoul of the law!
Collective bargaining considerations are also addressed.
Our schedule accomodates you where ever you are:
1:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern
12:00pm-3:00pm Central
11:00am - 2:00pm Mountain
10:00am-1:00pm Pacific
An optional Zoom meeting will be held after class to further answer questions.
Worried about missing some of the program due to runs, meetings or other interruptions?
The webinar will be recorded. If you miss some or all of the session, we can provide a link to watch the recording for up to 48 hours after the class.
Group discounts available. Email curtvarone@gmail.com for details.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We all know that sometimes plans must change. If you find you can no longer attend a program, please contact me at curtvarone@gmail.com. Among the options are:
- transferring your registration to a colleague
- setting up a credit for a future program
- providing a full or partial refund
If you are seeking a refund, provided you notify me at least 30 days prior to a scheduled event, a full refund will be provided. If notice is provided less than 30 days prior to the event, you will receive a refund of 50%, unless notice is provided less than 10 days prior to an event, in which case a refund will not be provided.
Remember - if you cannot attend you can always transfer your registration to a colleague or set up a credit for a future class. Just notify me before hand. There is no refund or credit for no shows without advanced notice. The video replay is available up to 48 hours after the class ends.
Curt Varone has over 50 years of experience in the fire service. He served twenty-nine years with the Providence, Rhode Island, Fire Department, retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief (shift-commander). He has been a practicing attorney for over forty years, licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. Besides his Juris Doctorate, he has a Master's in Forensic Psychology. He previously served as the Director of the Public Fire Protection Division at the National Fire Protection Association. Curt has written four books, Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, Fire Officer's Legal Handbook, Managing Disciplinary Challenges in the Fire Service, and The Judgment Line. He is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column and remains active as a deputy chief with the Exeter (RI) Fire Department.
Drafting and Implementing an Effective Social Media Policy
Social media has been both a blessing and a curse for the fire service, but one thing is undeniable: social media with all its problems is here to stay. The law that applies to social media has been evolving and continues to evolve, with new cases arising daily. Emerging are important principles that fire service leaders and firefighters can use to avoid the pitfalls that can lead to firefighters being terminated or social media policies being struck down.
This program will review the latest social media cases affecting the fire service, and the important lessons learned. These lessons will then be connected to recommended policy language for an effective and legally defensible social media policy.
Attendees will receive course materials that includes a model social media policy that can be customized in class. Copies of the most important cases will also be provided.
Program Outline
1. Case Studies - Intro
2. First Amendment Protection
3. Concerted Activities Protection
4. Case Studies – Review
5. Model Policy Language: drafting your social media policy
6. Training Issues
Cost: $75 per person
Group discounts are available. Email me for details: curtvarone@gmail.com
Why this webinar will help you:
Courts routinely strike down well intentioned social media policies because they restrict speech under an important principle known as prior restraint. This puts fire service leaders in a bind because even well-intentioned policies aimed at protecting firefighters can run afoul of the First Amendment.
Without clear policy guidance, firefighters find themselves in a situation where there are no rules... until AFTER something is posted that causes a controversy. By then it may be too late to save their career.
There is a solution. Understanding the First Amendment is not rocket science. It is actually a fascinating subject and once the principles are understood, guidance to firefighters becomes much easier. This program focuses on what the First Amendment requires, and how fire service policies can provide the kind of guidance needed without running afoul of the law!
Collective bargaining considerations are also addressed.
Our schedule accomodates you where ever you are:
1:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern
12:00pm-3:00pm Central
11:00am - 2:00pm Mountain
10:00am-1:00pm Pacific
An optional Zoom meeting will be held after class to further answer questions.
Worried about missing some of the program due to runs, meetings or other interruptions?
The webinar will be recorded. If you miss some or all of the session, we can provide a link to watch the recording for up to 48 hours after the class.
Group discounts available. Email curtvarone@gmail.com for details.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We all know that sometimes plans must change. If you find you can no longer attend a program, please contact me at curtvarone@gmail.com. Among the options are:
- transferring your registration to a colleague
- setting up a credit for a future program
- providing a full or partial refund
If you are seeking a refund, provided you notify me at least 30 days prior to a scheduled event, a full refund will be provided. If notice is provided less than 30 days prior to the event, you will receive a refund of 50%, unless notice is provided less than 10 days prior to an event, in which case a refund will not be provided.
Remember - if you cannot attend you can always transfer your registration to a colleague or set up a credit for a future class. Just notify me before hand. There is no refund or credit for no shows without advanced notice. The video replay is available up to 48 hours after the class ends.