Workplace law, social media use, and generational attitudes

The recent dismissal of a Melbourne-based junior lawyer by her employer, for refusing to delete a viral TikTok video in which she alleged poor working conditions at her law firm, doesn't just give rise to questions about the extent to which employees can air grievances on social media; it has also highlighted differences of opinion between generations about workplace culture in law.

In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Swaab partner Michael Byrnes to discuss the recent sacking of a junior lawyer by her firm over her TikTok commentary about her employer and apparent refusal to delete the post in question, how and why her employer was able to terminate her, the extent to which grievances can be aired publicly or not, how to navigate different social media platforms, the exposure of different generational attitudes to law's perceived "culture of silence", the need for well-drafted social media policies, and how employers can and must navigate generational differences in attitude.