This presentation will be held at the Blair County Convention Center
Registration and Presentation Timeline:
- Meeting Registration: 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
- Breakfast served during registration
- Presentation begins at 8:00 AM
- Presentation ends at 9:30 AM
Recertification Credits: 1.50 HRCI (General) and 1.50 SHRM PDCs Codes will be provided to those in attendance at the in-person meeting.
Can We Fire Them for That?
Navigating Employee Terminations, Social Media & Off-Duty Conduct
Presented by: Attorney Patrick Fanelli
Program Description
Can an employer terminate an employee for an offensive social media post made outside working hours? What happens when coworkers complain about an employee’s personal online activity? And what steps should HR take to ensure employee terminations are legally defensible?
Employee discipline and termination decisions can be challenging, especially when personal social media activity, employee rights, and workplace concerns intersect.
Join HRMABC for this timely and practical employment law presentation exploring the legal considerations surrounding general employee terminations, social media activity, and off-duty conduct.
Through recent court decisions, real-world scenarios, and practical guidance, attendees will learn how to navigate difficult employment decisions, recognize potential legal pitfalls, and minimize organizational risk.
Attendees will also receive practical HR resources, including a pre-termination checklist, social media investigation checklist, and sample termination letter.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify legal risks and common pitfalls associated with employee discipline and termination, including considerations under Pennsylvania and federal employment laws.
- Distinguish protected employee activity from conduct that may warrant discipline, including personal social media posts, off-duty behavior, and workplace-related complaints.
- Evaluate employee social media complaints and determine appropriate investigative and corrective actions when online conduct creates workplace concerns.
- Apply effective documentation and investigation practices to support consistent, fair, and legally defensible employment decisions.
- Recognize best practices for employee terminations, including pre-termination assessments, termination meetings, and separation documentation.
- Analyze recent court decisions and legal developments to identify practical implications for employer policies and disciplinary practices.
Who Should Attend?
HR professionals, managers, supervisors, business owners, and anyone responsible for employee relations, workplace investigations, or disciplinary and termination decisions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical tools and valuable legal insights to help navigate some of today’s most challenging HR situations!
Presenter: Attorney Patrick Fanelli
Presenter Bio:
Along with Ms. Willett, Mr. Fanelli is a founding partner of the Firm. Patrick focuses his practice on helping public and private employers navigate the increasingly regulated landscape of labor and employment law. Every year Pennsylvania school districts and other public entities turn to him for assistance in the collective bargaining process, while a number of others seek his guidance as a general solicitor.
Patrick serves as the Immediate Past President of the Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitors Association. He has presented at numerous seminars in the field of education law, including the Sam Francis School Law Seminar in Pittsburgh, the Penn State School Study Council Seminar at the Dickinson School of Law, and various seminars and events sponsored by PSBA.
Patrick served as an Adjunct Professor for Penn State University in the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Labor and Employee Relations where he teaches Employment Law. He is also served as an Adjunct Professor for Saint Francis University’s Graduate School of Human Resource Management where he taught Labor Law. He is a regular lecturer for The Lorman Institute.
His Practice Areas Include: Labor Law, Employment Law, Employment Litigation, School Law, Municipal Law and Collective Bargaining.
Patrick is a graduate of Penn State Dickinson School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctorate, Penn State University earning a Master of Public Administration and BA in Political Science.
His bar/court admissions include the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the US District Court of Western Pa, and the US Court of Appeals – Third Circuit.
Patrick is proud to be practicing in the Altoona and Blair County area, where he was born and raised. Patrick and his wife Tiffany, who grew up a short distance away in Martinsburg, now live in Altoona with their five children. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time with his family. Patrick also enjoys helping with activities in his church and other community organizations.
Recertification Credits: 1.50 HRCI (General) and 1.50 SHRM PDCs Codes will be provided to those in attendance at the in-person meeting.
This activity has been approved for 1.5 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).Please make note of the activity ID number on your recertification application form. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.
The use of this seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.
This program has been approved for 1.5 Professional Development Credits (PDC) toward SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP recertification through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). HRMA of Blair County is recognized by SHRM to offer (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Please be sure to note the program ID number in the online portal, www.portal.shrmcertification.org. For more information about SHRM certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org
