Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
With the presidential inauguration just behind us, it’s no surprise that political tensions are high in the workplace. With a record number of employees donning “Make America Great Again (MAGA)” hats and “Yes She Can” T-shirts at work, employers want to know whether they can—or should—implement policies to keep politics out of the workplace. While […]
With this year’s presidential election underway, escaping coverage and conversations about candidates and campaigns seems nearly impossible. While there’s nothing new about political coverage increasing during an election year, the unprecedented events during this year’s election cycle along with the extreme polarization of modern-day politics in America have led to increased levels of passionate discourse […]
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA v. Harvard/ UNC, opponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have launched an all-out attack on corporate DEI programs. Recently, however, the courts have offered some guidance to beleaguered corporations trying to determine how to avoid litigation over their DEI programs. Guidance on Race-Neutral Admission Policy In […]
Public debate about the Israel-Hamas war demonstrates that Americans have strong, and often divergent, views on important social and political issues. Believing that their right to express those views is firmly grounded in the First Amendment, celebrities and high-profile figures are freely expressing highly controversial opinions through a variety of means – social media, signs, […]
The phrase “cancel culture” has become ubiquitous over the last couple years. It strikes fear in the hearts of social media influencers and public figures everywhere. One post in poor taste or the unearthing of a years-old tweet can bring a screeching halt to a politician’s campaign or an emerging artist’s rise to fame. So, […]
An employer could lawfully terminate an employee who used a racial slur on Facebook, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (whose rulings cover all Ohio employers) recently concluded after applying a test that balances a public employee’s First Amendment right to free speech against the employer’s interest in maintaining an effective workplace.
We are often asked whether being an “at-will” employer means a company can terminate somebody for a discriminatory reason—for example, because she is a woman or a person of color. The answer is no. The at-will-employment doctrine does not protect employers from the consequences of discriminatory job actions. But the 2nd District Court of Appeal […]
As Americans, we are rightfully proud of our freedoms and our rights. The country was founded on such principals. So, it’s not surprising that many employees become indignant if and when their employers put in place or enforce policies they see as curbing these rights, particularly their right to free speech.
When a person who is paid to edit the written words of others fails to edit his own words, his job may be in jeopardy.
Employers—especially public-sector employers—are eagerly awaiting the outcome of a case going to the U.S. Supreme Court that may deal a blow to unions’ ability to collect dues.