Handling Political Speech at Work
Nearly everything seems to be political these days. You’ve probably experienced political discussions creeping into the workplace. Perhaps you’ve even had an employee claim they can say or do something because it’s their First Amendment right to free speech. Of course, the right to free speech is a cornerstone of America and what it means to be American.

 

But does it mean employees have some kind of free speech rights in the workplace? As an employer, what can you do – if anything – to keep the political peace in the workplace?

1. There is nothing you can do. Prohibiting employees from discussing their political views would infringe upon their rights to free speech and is prohibited by the First Amendment.
2. Employers can prohibit all political discussions in the workplace – regardless of the topic.
3. Employers can limit political speech so long as the prohibition is equally applied and does not interfere with employees’ right to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment.
4. Employers can only prohibit political discussions if those discussions cause a disruption in the workplace.

Read on to see if you chose the correct answer.