The Minefield cover image

The Minefield

How much control should corporations have over the speech of their employees?

Nov 13, 2024
Josh Bornstein, an employment and labor relations lawyer and author of "Working for the Brand," dives into the fraught intersection of corporate power and employee free speech. He discusses the chilling effect of corporate policies on political expression, especially in industries like journalism. The conversation critically explores how large corporations, driven by public pressure, often compromise ethical commitments, raising questions about accountability and the alarming erosion of worker rights in today’s digital landscape.
53:58

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The shift of power from governments to corporations is redefining employee rights, especially regarding free speech and public accountability.
  • Corporate branding emphasizing values often conflicts with profit motives, complicating their responses to employee actions amidst social justice pressures.

Deep dives

The Evolving Nature of Power

Traditionally, the concept of power in political systems has centered around government authority, but this understanding is changing as private corporations now exert significant influence over personal lives. The podcast discusses how power previously held by governments has shifted into the hands of corporations, particularly through mechanisms like surveillance. This insight is illustrated through the example of data collection, where individuals willingly trade their information for convenience, thereby allowing corporations to accumulate vast amounts of personal data. This evolution raises critical questions about the implications of corporate power and the extent to which it should be scrutinized alongside governmental authority.

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