The reasons behind the ban and other company policies are not hard to understand. Nucleus Research, an IT research firm, reported in July that employee productivity drops 1.5% at companies that allow full access to Facebook in the workplace.

In addition to lost productivity, however, companies could face some legal jeopardy. Twitter, for example, poses a unique challenge for companies, one different from Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and the blogosphere. Why? Twitter focuses on what the user is doing now, at this very moment. The attraction is the spontaneity of the interaction. The responses are supposed to be unrehearsed, unfiltered and without time for reflection.

Some obvious problems might arise in the workplace. Picture how these tweets could pose legal and/or business issues:

1. “I am having coffee during a business meeting and my manager’s hand is on my knee.”
2. “I cannot believe the president of our company just announced in our morning meeting that _______.”
3. “I know we have an important deadline, but I’m heading to the beach. Who’s in?”

Clearly, these tweets test legal boundaries, productivity and even jeopardize corporate proprietary information. Companies should develop “Computer Use” policies that are simple but effective to protect the firm and provide guidance to employees on what kind of behavior could become the subject of discipline. For more, see our White Paper on the topic “Workplace tweeting has CEOs, employment attorneys atwitter”

The contracts raise the ire of many small business owners and public entities looking to produce the most cost effective, efficient public project possible. Meanwhile, unions strongly support PLAs: they provide a steady stream of work, spell out working conditions and pay into benefits programs. Special interests also take interest in the ability to write in social or environmental justice clauses into PLAs.

Regardless of what side you fall on, PLAs are here to stay, so we must learn to live with them in a harmonious manner. Understanding the complex contracts can be tricky, but learning the basics is a good start.

For guidance on PLAs, see our White Paper on the topic, “Project Labor Agreements: They’re here to stay, so let’s deal with them”

The series has already featured State Assembly member Nancy Skinner; Betty Yee, Chair of the Franchise Tax Board; and Nancy O’Malley, Alameda County District Attorney. O’Malley took questions from the audience about how and when her office seeks the death penalty.

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