Can a company fire you for your political affiliation?

Can an employer fire or discriminate against an employee based on political beliefs? You may be surprised to learn that, for many employees, the answer is yes. Federal law does not protect private employees from discrimination based on their politics.

Is political affiliation a protected status?

Political affiliation isn’t a protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In addition, employees can have contractual protections, such as under a company handbook, which prevents discharge based on political activities of the employee.

Can employees talk about politics at work?

According to the Nation Labor Relations Board (NLRB), private-sector employees can engage in political speech “for the purpose of collective bargaining and other mutual aid.” Then, some states have written laws protecting employees’ political expression.

Can you get fired for political views on Facebook?

Employers cannot force or influence employees to follow any particular course of political action by threatening employees of termination. California employees cannot be fired for engaging in political activities, including expressing their political views online.

Can you lose your job for posting on Facebook?

In short, yes, you can be fired for what you post on social media like Facebook or any other site. However, there are certain laws that limit the extent of an employer’s right to fire or discipline employees for what they post online.

How do you deal with political affiliations in the workplace?

You want to be clear that you’re not discriminating or retaliating against any single person based on their personal political affiliation and engagement in lawful activity outside work. Furthermore, communicate that mutual respect among colleagues is the foundation of all interactions in the workplace.

Can employers ban political activities in the workplace?

Employers have the right to ban in their workplaces any non-work-related activities and, as noted above, there is no general federal protection for employees’ political activities.

Can you discuss politics in the workplace?

A group of employees discussing a political party’s or candidate’s position on protected factors – race, religion, national origin or gender – can trigger discrimination complaints from other employees who feel that their colleagues are biased against them.

How can private employers address politics in the workplace?

Private employers can be aided in addressing these issues by recognizing that two commonly held beliefs about “politics in the workplace” are, in fact, simply misconceptions.