As 2012 draws to a close, we reflect back on all that we have learned this last year. In the modern workplace, both employers and employees learned their fair share of technological dos and don’ts (re-read a few old Weeks in Review, and you’ll see what I mean). The most recent lesson? Even “legal” employment actions can cause PR problems. Just ask the Iowa dentist who fired his assistant for being too attractive. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the termination was justified, but individuals from around the country have plastered the dentist’s Yelp page with negative reviews, calling for a complete boycott of his services.
Law enforcement has also learned a thing or two from the evolving world of technology. Now, many police departments are harnessing the technological benefits of social media platforms such as Twitter and Nextdoor, in the hope that a more engaged community will lead to more effective police work.
So here’s to learning from our past and planning for the future. From everyone here at The Modern Workplace, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year.
Technology and the Workplace
NLRB Slams Facebook Firings, Applying Old Laws to New Tech (Law 360) (Employment Matters blog)
Iowa Dentist Who Fired “Irresistible” Worker Gets Slammed on Yelp (Huffington Post)
Parking Panda: The End of Parking Misery (Slate)
7 Tech Trends That Will Impact Your Business in 2013 (PC World)
Technology and the Law
Congress Defeats E-Mail Privacy Legislation – Again (Wired)
Instagram Furor Triggers First Class Action Lawsuit (Reuters)
Become a Crime-Fighting Superhero in Your Spare Time With Nextdoor (Wired)
Police Using Twitter to Offer Virtual Ridealongs (La Crosse Tribune)
Police Struggle as Twitter Users Reveal Impaired Driving Checkstops (The Globe and Mail)
There’s an App for That
Guilt-Free Kid iPad Apps Give Parents a Holiday Break (NBC)
Your Smartphone Will Replace Your Car Keys by 2015 (Wired)
Best Fitness Apps of 2012 (Huffington Post)
Air Pollution App Finds Healthier Route (Tech News Daily)
Flipboard Rolls Out Magazine App for Android Tablets (LA Times)