abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

4 Sep 2012

Author:
Susan Adam, Forbes [USA]

Talking Politics At Work Can Get You Fired [USA]

Although the First Amendment broadly protects our right to freedom of speech, especially when we’re expressing views about politics...private employers can bar political discussions in the workplace...[D]uring the last presidential election, a quarter of employers had a written policy on political activities, some of which include restrictions on political chatter at work. Another 20% had unwritten policies and about 5% of organizations with a policy said they meted out discipline for noncompliance...Though private employers have broad latitude in deciding what sort of speech is acceptable in the office, there are exceptions...Under the National Labor Relations Act, an employer can’t prevent employees from having discussions related to union activity...Another exception...is so-called “on duty limitations” in four states...[where] employers can’t restrict employees from political activities even when they are at work. [Article mentions Proskauer, Chicago Outback Steakhouse, Walmart, Vante, Chick-fil-A, Forbes, CBS, Wall Street Journal]