Are employees allowed to say whatever they want if it relates to their views on politics, LGBTQ+ rights, and working conditions?
The First Amendment protects Americans’ freedom of expression, but it doesn’t prevent a private employer from setting its own rules or terminating an employee for saying something the organization doesn’t like. Although employees don’t have a constitutional right to free speech at work, employers should still be aware of any laws that protect workers’ speech in certain situations.
Employment relationships are presumed to be “at will” in every state except Montana, which means employers can terminate an employee at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. However, workers often misunderstand the right to free speech in the United States, assuming it applies to the workplace. Click the following link to read an article that summarizes the First Amendment and addresses current trends impacting free speech in the workplace: HR Insights – Free Speech in the Workplace
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