Attorney-Client Privilege

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Monitoring employee communications – particularly electronic communications – is standard practice for most U.S. employers. Beginning in May 2022, however, employers in New York state who engage in electronic monitoring of employee communications will be required to make certain disclosures to their workers.

Pre-employment written notice for new hires

More particularly, on November 8, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law state Senate Bill S2628 requiring that all Empire State employers – regardless of size or location within the state – provide prior written notice to newly hired employees if they intend to monitor or otherwise intercept employee emails, text messages, telephone conversations, Internet access, or usage of an electronic device or system. The notice must be provided in writing, in an electronic record, or in another electronic form, and must be acknowledged by each employee either in writing or electronically.

Notably, notice only needs to be provided “upon hiring.” This means that notices only need to be given to employees hired on or after May 7, 2022 – the law’s effective date – but not to existing employees. In addition to this notice, employers must post a notice of electronic monitoring in a conspicuous location within the workplace that is readily available for viewing by all employees who will be subject to the monitoring.
Continue Reading New York becomes latest state to legislate workplace privacy protections

Have you ever thought that being an in-house attorney will insulate you from being deposed as a witness??  Not so fast!  The role of in-house counsel in the employment context has expanded, the legal landscape is changing, and, now more than ever, in-house attorneys are being deposed as fact witnesses.  The increase in deposing in-house counsel stems, in part, from a failure to take the proper precautions to avoid being deposed.  In-house counsel’s participation in internal investigations, layoffs, and discipline and termination decisions increases the risk of being deposed.  But there are ways to minimize that risk, particularly by recognizing the different roles of in-house counsel and how acting in a business capacity can jeopardize claims of privilege protection.  This is the second in a series of employment law blogs wherein Reed Smith will offer practical tips on how in-house counsel can avoid being deposed.  To see Practical Tip No. 1, click here.
Continue Reading In-House Counsel: How To Avoid Being Deposed, Part 2

This post was written by Kyle Bahr and Efrem Grail.

A recent Third Circuit opinion undercuts the attorney-client privilege, especially in federal Grand Jury investigations of companies and individuals. Under the new precedent, there is no way to immediately challenge a court order invading the protections of the attorney-client privilege without first suffering a judicial…

This post was also written by Lucas Liben and George M. Linge.

This may be one of the abiding truths of the 21st Century: the pervasiveness of modern communication technology has revolutionized how business is conducted, law is practiced, and life is lived. Nevertheless, courts remain protective of communications between an attorney and…

As employers seek to avoid substantial exposure for alleged violations of wage and hour laws, including the continuing flood of class actions, many are asking outside counsel to review or audit their pay practices so that any problems can be fixed to minimize such risks. In a welcome development, the California Supreme Court recently rejected…