Workplace Political Expression
Some Best Practices for Balancing Employee rights and employer responsibilities
By: Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, Dawn Solowey, and Tim Buckley from Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Excerpt from originally published article in PileDriver magazine, Issue #4 2024
Excerpt from originally published article in PileDriver magazine, Issue #4 2024
We live in a polarized nation, in a contentious election year. Workplaces are not immune from this polarization. Indeed, employees are increasingly expressing their political viewpoints at work and on social media platforms, where they interact with co-workers. As opinions may differ strongly across workplaces, employees' expression of political viewpoints can create conflict with co-workers. These conflicts can result in decreased productivity, increased discord among colleagues and litigation. As every news cycle seems to foster further division in the United States, the rate of conflict over these issues in the workplace is poised to increase.
It is challenging for employers to navigate the proper response when these conflicts erupt in their workplace. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Rather, employers must understand the legal risks associated with various responses, while striving to stay true to company values and principles.
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