2016 Presidential Political Passions and Contentions: How to Navigate Political Speech and Actions at Work

Why Should You Attend:

Is it going to be Bernie, Hillary, or Trump? Is it okay for me to make statements about these candidates in the workplace or could it be construed as discrimination? And what do your co-workers believe? Does management and the organization stay neutral in their stance or are they outspoken in expressing their viewpoints?

This captivating presidential election is both dividing the country and also reflects the division in the U. S., and therefore dividing the workforce. Employers need to be cautious regarding discussing politics in the workplace.

This webinar will explore the financial challenges like the risk of discrimination, loss of productivity when employees spend time discussing politics at work. If political speech isn’t handled well by the organization, it risks not only lawsuits, but absenteeism and turnover. Shouldn’t political speech be an important element of your organization’s diversity and inclusion initiative? Political speech at work is more complex than we likely have given consideration—organizations will benefit from getting a strong handle on the complexity with this 2016 presidential election.

Learning Objectives:

• To learn workers’ rights about political speech
• To know what the legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace/employer include about political speech by the organization and management
• To diminish bias and risk of liability regarding political speech

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• The first amendment and its role in controlling political speech at work
• The National Labor Relations Act and how the statue applies to politically charged speech
• Interpreting federal and state anti-discrimination laws and their nexus with political speech
• Ten helpful hints in dictating political speech at work
• Pros and cons of political speech at work
• Consequences for employees and for organizations when political speech occurs in the workplace
• The role social media plays in political speech and the workplace
• Specific laws related to political speech inside and outside the workplace that may impact a worker’s job
• Suggestions of items in your political speech policy

Who Will Benefit:

• CEO
• COO
• CFO
• VP of HR
• All HR Directors, Managers, and Generalists
• Supervisors
• Managers
• Director of Risk Management

Instructor Profile:

Susan Strauss is a national and international speaker, trainer, consultant and a recognized expert on workplace and school harassment and bullying. She conducts harassment and bullying investigations and functions as an expert witness in harassment and bullying lawsuits. Her clients are from business, education, healthcare, law, and government organizations from both the public and private sector.

Dr. Strauss has conducted research, written over 30 books, book chapters, and journal articles on harassment, bullying, and related topics. She has been featured on 20/20, CBS Evening News and other television and radio programs as well as interviewed for newspaper and journal articles such as Harvard Education Newsletter, Lawyers Weekly, and the Times of London.

She is the recipient of the Excellence in Educational Equity Award from the Minnesota Department of Education for her work in sexual harassment in education. She has spoken about sexual harassment at international conferences in Botswana, Egypt, Thailand, and the U.S. She consulted with the Israeli Ministry of Education, as well as with educators from Israel, England, Australia, St. Martin, Bali, Beirut, and Canada. She traveled to Poland and conducted research on sex discrimination and sexual harassment in Polish workplaces with Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.

Dr. Strauss has a doctorate in organizational leadership. She is a registered nurse, has a bachelor’s degree in human services and counseling, a master’s degree in community health, and professional certificate in training and development. She has been involved in the harassment and bullying arena since 1985.

Topic Background:

35% of employers openly share their political views with employees; 36% of employees discuss politics at work; of those who did, 23% said it led to heated discussion or an argument. 80% of employees believe it would be illegal for their employers to terminate them for engaging in politics at work. Is there an ethical viewpoint in speaking politics at work?

Let’s face it, along with religion, sex, and money, politics is one of the most contentious topics in our conversation. Do employers need to be careful of political affiliation discrimination? Don’t workers have freedom of speech to discuss politics as they see fit? Or, can it get you fired?

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