Discussing Politics at Work
It’s that time of year when things get spooky and scary. Unfortunately, I’m not talking about Halloween. I’m referring to this political season when passions are running high and sometimes divisive discussions arise at work. Let’s talk about how business owners can help navigate these “trick”-y situations.
Be proactive and prepare your employees for these potentially difficult conversations. Let your employees know your expectations on how these conversations should be handled and where to go if they feel uncomfortable. Remind your employees to be civil and respectful. Set the example at the executive level by demonstrating how to appropriately interact.
Many employees wrongly believe the First Amendment gives them the right to express their political views at work. This free-speech protection only applies (in a limited way) in the public sector. However, this doesn’t mean private employers can also completely stop all political speech from employees, and it is unrealistic to do so. In fact, there are laws protecting employees’ rights to engage in certain concerted activities.
If you don’t already have one, consider creating a “disruption in the workplace” policy that allows for discipline if an employee is interrupting the work of others for any reason, including discussing politics. Also, consider providing training to employees on this policy.
As always, if you have questions about permitted speech and political activities in the workplace, or need help creating policies/trainings, please reach out to a member of our firm for assistance.
