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If we have a legal right to discuss something at work, we should also have a legal right to a science-based discussion of that topic. The Advice Memo seems to
by leereeves 9y ago
If we have a legal right to discuss something at work, we should also have a legal right to a science-based discussion of that topic.
The Advice Memo seems to agree that discussion of Google's diversity program was protected speech, until it strayed into scientific findings that some people found offensive.
- tptacek 9y agoI think you're still not getting it. You don't have the legal right to discuss things at work without termination. Blanket federal employment law says that there is a powerful presumption in favor of the employer when terminating employees. They can fire you for what you say. They can fire you for dying your hair the wrong hair color. They don't need a good reason. You need a good reason if you're going to contest a termination.
- leereeves 9y agoThe NLRB referred to some things employees do have a legal right to discuss without termination: > expressing a dissenting view on matters affecting working conditions or offering critical feedback of its policies and programs, which were likely protected Damore's memo was critical feedback about Google's diversity policy. The inclusion of certain controversial scientific findings is perfectly reasonable in this context.
- tptacek 9y agoThe Advice Memo was signed and attributed to a 30-year veteran of the NLRB, and the content of the memo was signed off on by the NLRB's GC, who is a Trump appointee. They disagree with you.