Eric Schwartzman

I've updated my social media policy template as a result of this conversation with Lisa Milam-Perez, who edits a blog by CCH Wolters Kluwer about US law and business practices and who recently published a post about the latest guidance from the National Labor Relations Board, which says organizations need to be more specific in the language they use to govern the use of social media policy for US-based employees.  

Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act

In accordance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), employees based in the United States are entitled to a set of legal rights aimed at safeguarding their ability to collectively organize and advocate for improved working conditions.

These rights extend to employees' freedom to openly voice concerns and criticisms, even if such expressions involve public critique of their employer or the discussion of confidential information, such as salary details, via social networks and other digital channels.

It is essential to note that the NLRA sets stringent standards when it comes to restricting employees from engaging in discussions about "confidential information." The Act emphasizes that the definition of "confidential information" must be precisely delineated to avoid overly broad or restrictive requirements that could potentially infringe upon employees' rights.

In this context, Lisa delves into a comprehensive exploration of two memoranda issued by the Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Lafe Solomon, in a recent podcast. These memoranda provide critical guidance and insights into the nuanced interpretation and application of NLRA provisions concerning employee rights and restrictions related to confidential information discussions.

Lisa Milam-Perez sheds light on the intricacies of these memoranda and their implications for employers and employees navigating the complex landscape of labor relations within the United States.

As Lisa Milam-Perezsays in her blog post:  

"An employer’s policies “should not be so sweeping that they prohibit the kinds of activity protected by federal labor law, such as the discussion of wages or working conditions among employees."

Lisa Milam-Perez

Safeguarding Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

In the United States, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) stands as a cornerstone piece of legislation designed to protect the rights and interests of employees. These rights are pivotal in ensuring that workers can collectively organize and advocate for improved working conditions without fear of reprisal.

Under the NLRA, employees are granted the vital freedom to voice their concerns and criticisms, even if these expressions involve openly critiquing their employers or engaging in discussions about confidential information, such as their salary details, through social networks and other mediums.

A critical point to underscore is the meticulous framework the NLRA establishes for any attempts to restrict employees from engaging in conversations regarding "confidential information."

The NLRA demands precision in defining what constitutes "confidential information" to prevent overly broad or overly restrictive requirements that might potentially infringe upon the rights of employees. It is in this context that Lisa, in this podcast, embarks on an extensive exploration of two crucial memoranda issued by the Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Lafe Solomon.

These memoranda, which hold significant importance in the realm of labor relations, offer invaluable guidance and insights. They serve to illuminate the nuanced interpretation and application of NLRA provisions that pertain to employee rights and the restrictions associated with discussions surrounding confidential information.

Lisa Milam-Perez discusses the intricacies inherent in these memoranda, unraveling their profound implications for both employers and employees navigating the multifaceted landscape of labor relations within the United States. Through her analysis, she sheds light on how the NLRA safeguards employee rights while striking a delicate balance with the protection of legitimate business interests.

Companies might consider updating their social media policies based on Lisa Milam-Perez's insights because of the evolving landscape of labor relations and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Lisa highlighted the importance of precisely defining "confidential information" in social media policies to ensure compliance with NLRA regulations.

Companies could benefit from revisiting and refining their policies to align them with the NLRA's stringent standards, thus reducing the risk of infringing upon employees' rights to discuss their working conditions, wages, or other employment-related matters on social networks.

By updating their social media policies in accordance with these insights, companies can strike a balance between safeguarding legitimate business interests and respecting employees' rights, ultimately fostering a more harmonious and legally compliant workplace environment.

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Handling crisis PR at GM before, during and after US taxpayers rescued the automaker with Jennifer Ecclestone (@jenecclestone), Social Media and Executive Communications for the GM Product and Technology division.

Jennifer discusses the automotive industry crisis of 2008-2010, how the US automakers got caught without hybrids when gas prices increased, how US Dept. of Defense Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accelerated production of MRAPs, the politics of setting fuel efficiency standards and what crisis PR firms can learn from her handling of communications through the automotive industry bailout crisis.

This interview was recorded the 2011 PRSA International Conference in Orlando.  Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals.

PRSA provides professional development, sets standards of excellence and upholds principles of ethics for its members and, more broadly, the multi-billion dollar global public relations profession.

We also advocate for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services, and act as one of the industry’s leading voices on the important business and professional issues of our time.

Image by Mike Licht

If you’re a B2B growth marketer looking to generate leads on Linkedin marketing strategy, this podcast is for you.  

You’re going to get tangible, applied Linkedin marketing tips and learn Linkedin marketing strategy from the company’s own developer advocate Kirsten Jones (@synedra), API Evangelist at Akamai Technologies who blogs at Princess Polymath.

In this episode, she discusses the technology behind Linkedin’s marketing strategy for extending their services beyond their website and helping members take their credentials with them wherever they go online.  

With more than 135 million members, and 4 million new members joining each month, Linkedin is the world’s third largest online network and in this podcast, she tells you everything you need to know to mastermind a smart Linkedin marketing startegy.

Linkedin’s goal is to connect to world’s professionals and make them more productive and successful and one way they do that is by making it easy for members to leverage their Linkedin professional profile and network of contacts on third-party websites and in mobile environments.  

Kirsten speaks at conferences and meetups to educate and engage developers with the LinkedIn API.

She has given presentations at various events, including the Silicon Valley iOS Developer Meetup, the Semantic Web Meetup, the DataInsight Hackathon and Silicon Valley Code Camp.

Her talks range from overviews of our platform to hands-on workshops. She's comfortable speaking in front of small and large groups, and is an engaging and entertaining speaker, interacting with the audience during and after the presentation.

Linkedin Marketing Topics Discussed:

Presdo Match Linkedin Integration for Connecting at Le WebDemographics of Linkedin’s user baseLinkedin’s competitive values: Identity, Insights and EverywhereLinkedin Homepage, Linkedin Today and Linkedin GroupsLinkedin’s Javascript APIs and REST backendLinkedin’s prebuilt, easy to integrate PluginsIntegrating Linkedin into trade show and conference websiteIntegrating Linkedin into recruiting websitesLinkedin Company Insider Plugin at CNNMoney.comLinkedin’s iPhone, Android and Blackberry mobile appsInformation Storing Kerfuffle between Monster and LinkedinLinkedin Plugin Builder

This presentation was recorded at Le Web in Paris.  

Special thanks to Loic and Geraldine Le Meur for inviting me to attend as an official conference blogger.

Photo by Kon Karampelas on Unsplash

It sounds almost too good to be true: rent an apartment in any city for a fraction of what it costs to stay at a hotel.

You get a kitchen, more space and save a lot of money.  And that much IS true. But with the savings comes the risk and stress of fending for yourself in the event of a mishap.  

But you may wind up paying dearly in other ways.  That's what my family and I learned the hard way when we rented a Paris apartment through AirBNB to attend Le Web, where the company's founder Brian Chesky was keynoting.

And despite my repeated attempts to find out how AirBNB protects renters, I kept getting the run around.

So I joined FIR co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz in a Google+ Hangout to recount my less-than-stellar experience with AirBNB, and what it all means for this and other start-ups selling the proposition of collaborative consumption without adequate customer service.    

Connecting buyers and sellers without providing an intermediary, such as an agency, to resolve disputes and address issues that arise as a result of the transaction, is a recipe for disaster, particularly when the stakes are as high as they are when you travel.  

In the end, I think my experience illustrates some serious flaws in AirBNB's business model.

The concept of a community marketplace for rentals seems like a good idea at first, but with no real protection for hosts or guests, and with both sides having such a low tolerance for pain, I'm not sure the business has long term viability.  

Mishaps can happen to anyone and probably do, which I imagine is why AirBNB declined to speak with me on the record about my experience.  

I learned a hard lesson by experiencing a big chink in AirBNB's armor firsthand.  And after more people learn this same lesson the hard way, I wonder just how gung-ho VCs will be about backing travel-related collaborative consumption websites like AirBNB.  

AirBNB's ultimate test will be based on just how price sensitive travelers are. Saving on a computer by purchasing from a big box retailer is not without risk, but the risk is manageable.

On the other hand, the risks of travel accommodations gone wrong are much higher.  Holding for customer service in the comfort of your home is tolerable. Standing in the rain for an owner to get let you in when the lock breaks is something else.  

Time will tell, but this traveler has learned a very important, hard lesson about the risks of renting through AirBNB and the risk of using a community marketplace for travel services. Uber take note.  

Chris Elliot wrote about my incident on his blog, and is conducting a survey on whether or not he should help me get AirBNB to agree to talk to me for this podcast.

Photo by Alexa West on Unsplash

In this podcast, recorded at Le Web 2011 in Paris, Christian Hernandez, Director of Platform Partnerships at Facebook discusses “The Power of the Graph" and explains why social design and engineering is the future of social marketing.  

Social marketing campaigns -- where people-powered social media optimization and social networking activities comprise the bulk of the social marketing strategy -- are about to be replaced carte blanche by web developers as the age of social media automation comes into fruition.

The workshop also features presentations by Facebook partner Axel Dauchez, CEO and Beatrice Tourvieille, marketing director at Deezer, and Jens Begemann, Founder and CEO or Wooga Games.

After a thorough discussion about the rationale behind the introduction of Facebook Timeline and the business case for integrating Facebook into online services to promote viral distribution, the developer partners discuss the increase in users they’ve secured, and why Wooga is focused on HTML5 as the future of social mobile app design.

Facebook Marketing Topics Discussed:

Why Social Design is the Future of Social MarketingFacebook Social Graph, Object Graph and Interest GraphRedesign of Facebook with Messaging, Newsfeed, Ticker and ProfilesFrom Edge Rank to Graph Rank, and it Changes Social OptimizationBeyond the “Like” Button. The Lexicon of Expanded Social GesturesWhy Fiskers and Geno Church Should Think Long and Hard About Timeline

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

Most Facebook and LinkedIn members are outside of the US.

So, when you market through social networks or SEO, you're promoting your message to a global audience.

To be successful, you need a global perspective. And that's what this episode is about.

In it, you will get significant take aways and marketing insights from what remains my favorite tech conference of the year.  

It's called Le Web and it brings together a very influential audience of US and European executives from businesses within the Internet ecosystem.

Top industry entrepreneurs, executives, investors, senior press, public relations agencies, and bloggers gather for two days in Paris each December to focus on the key issues and opportunities in the web marketplace and this was my second year attending as an official conference blogger.

In this podcast panel discussion, moderated by For Immediate Release co-hosts Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz, official Le Web conference bloggers Tac Anderson, Chris Heuer, and Eric Schwartzman exchange riffs on the key takeaways on the keynotes, the newsbreaks, and other happenings at this year’s confab.

Le Web offers attendees a European perspective on how technology is developing, and its the most entertaining and best-looking tech event. At LeWeb 2011, there were over 3500 attendees in Paris from 69 countries and more than 200,000 participants online.

Nearly 235,000 viewers watched sessions via Ustream, over 300,000 managed on-demand sessions via YouTube, and more than 100,000 viewers watched Eric Schmidt's keynote. 

Topics Discussed:

Eric Schmidt’s keynote address and his message to European Governments

The benefits of understanding the French and the European perspective

The dirty little secrets about prepaid broadband in Paris

Karl Lagerfeld’s keynote on the use of technology for fashion design

Sean Parker’s keynote on the rise of collaborative consumption

Social, local, mobile trends

    About the Panelists

Tac Anderson is vice president and head of digital strategies for Waggener Edstrom, based in London.

Chris Heuer is the specialist leader for social media at Deloitte Consulting and one of the founders of the Social Media Club.

Eric Schwartzman runs Schwartzman & Associates and founded iPressroom.

This is a simulcast of a video conference organized by Neville Hobson and recorded with Camtasia by Shel Holtz, co-hosts of the For Immediate Release podcast.

Photo by Soroush Karimi on Unsplash

Mr. Gerard Corbett, Incoming Chairman and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America and CEO of Redphlag discusses the benefits of membership in a tough economy, mentoring public relations professionals, the three-legged stool of the job hunt, combating negative stereotype of PR, PRSA’s international ambitions, the Global Alliance for public relations and communications management, the 2011 PRSA $30 dues increase, Ketchum’s blogger relations campaign for Con Agra and the fallout from the Motrin Mom’s incident.  

Corbett is an experienced and versatile branding, marketing, public relations and communications executive and coach having served four decades in senior marketing and communications roles at Global Fortune 100 firms and earlier in his career in aerospace engineering and information technology with Silicon Valley firms and NASA. He has effectively and deftly managed a range of communications, marketing and customer service functions in order to advance corporate culture, enhance brand understanding and trust, and enable organization harmony and effectiveness.  

His background spans High Tech Companies – Aerospace, Consumer Electronics, Computers, Storage, and Semiconductors – to Industrial Conglomerates, Natural Resources, Transportation and Heavy Equipment.  

Gerry Corbett is an experienced and versatile branding, marketing, public relations and communications executive and coach having served four decades in senior marketing and communications roles at Global Fortune 100 firms and earlier in his career in aerospace engineering and information technology with Silicon Valley firms and NASA.

He has effectively and deftly managed a range of communications, marketing and customer service functions in order to advance corporate culture, enhance brand understanding and trust, and enable organization harmony and effectiveness.  

Gerry's background spans High Tech Companies – Aerospace, Consumer Electronics, Computers, Storage, and Semiconductors – to Industrial Conglomerates, Natural Resources, Transportation and Heavy Equipment.  

This interview was recorded the 2011 PRSA International Conference in Orlando.

Why would someone use a social media blocker app?

It's a reasonable question with a reasonable answer.

“Most users are only two clicks away from malicious content,” says Patricia Hogan, senior public relations specialist at WebSense, who discusses how some companies install a social media blocker on their employees' computers, web security, email security, and data loss prevention through content security and why some companies chose to implement technology to safeguard their data and users by blocking access to social media.

We discussed the decision some companies make to filter access to social networks versus just training employees to use it responsibly, Jeremiah Owyang’s report on Social Business, Websense’s policy for acceptable use of social media policy, enabling businesses to safely leverage the social web, blocking access with demotivating your employees, securing content with classified and non-classified networks, restricting access through technology versus improving security through digital literacy and working with your IT team to safely embrace the social web.

This interview was recorded at the 2011 Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Orlando.

Photo by Scott Stephens on Unsplash

One of the most interesting alternatives to measuring online influencers to surface yet is Traackr, a premium service that reveals reach, resonance and rank in online social spheres.

In this exclusive interview, Traackr Founder and CEO Pierre-Loic Assayag, talks about how his service differs from Klout and other online influence scoring services.

This interview was recorded at the 2011 Public Relations Society of America International Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Photo by Chase Clark on Unsplash

This is a recording of the closing digital marketing keynote I delivered at Social Media Week Los Angeles.

I spoke about social business, how social is changing the way organizations communicate, and the way business customers procure and make purchasing decisions.  

Social Media Week Keynote Topics:

How are B2Bs using social media and content marketing differently from B2Cs?

What are the biggest challenges to successful B2B social media outreach?

Content marketing, community management and social automation: What works best in B2B?

How are organizations calculating a return on investment for B2B social media initiatives?

What is the role of mobile in B2B social business and how might GPS technology change the way products and services are made?

What new opportunities does the prevailing social infrastructure make possible?