Some employers frown upon workers taking political stances.
congress.org
By Ambreen Ali
Jason Levin set out to crash the Tea Party movement, but he ended up hurting his own career.
After the Oregon schoolteacher created a website suggesting that liberals infiltrate tea parties to make them appear outlandish, letters poured in from irate parents concerned about his activism.
The school district put Levin on paid administrative leave and launched an investigation into whether he used work time or resources to create the site.
Teachers face more scrutiny over their private actions than most people, but they aren’t the only ones who can face consequences for activism. Companies can fire their workers at will in most states, and some activists say that takes people away from their causes.
“People are often scared for being persecuted for their political activities,” said David S. Meyer, author of “The Politics of Protest,” a history of activism.
The First Amendment requires the government to protect free speech, but state laws determine how private employers can treat their workers. Not all states protect employees from discrimination for their political views. more …
