4 ms·

Political opinions are not protected in the same way, nor should they be, as the protected classes you cite (gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc

Political opinions are not protected in the same way, nor should they be, as the protected classes you cite (gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc).

stephc_int13 5y ago
Oh, really? I am not from the US, so I am a bit ignorant about the laws there. In France it is illegal to discriminate against an employee because of his political views. It is not allowed to ask.
- frankbreetz 5y ago
  What if they have extreme political views? Are you allowed to wear KKK robes to work?
  - xenocratus 5y ago
    Having some political views and expressing them at the workplace are different things - that's the whole point of this thread. If your views are that extreme maybe it isn't a workplace that should be taking action? Just a thought
  - nefitty 5y ago
    Why jump to the extreme? There are plenty of people who seemingly behave “normally”, but are internally sympathetic to some abhorrent views. Does that mean they can’t write JavaScript as well as the next person? If I’m privy to their beliefs that I find disagreeable, does that mean I should “out” them, even if their internalized beliefs have no discernible effect on the workplace? I’m trying to find my place in the conversation as well. More questions bubble up the more I think. Do I really care that my neighbor is racist if I never interact with them?
  - PeterisP 5y ago
    From the employer's perspective, the definition of "extreme political views" would be the labor rights / pro-union parties (wherever there's not a two-party first-past-the-post system like USA, those often are explicit separate parties) and the communist party, but the working class would very much want that employers don't get to make that decision. The criteria for too extreme should not be specific to employment. If some organization is considered too bad to exist (e.g. the Nazi party in post-WW2 germany), then it should be dismantled as such, but if the country considers a political movement legitimate enough to participate in elections and gain seats in government, then obviously supporting that organization or membership in it shouldn't be an obstacle for employment as well. I have no idea on what the legal status (if any) of KKK is today in USA, but whatever it is, IMHO it should be the same both for politics and employment.
  - thrownaway564 5y ago
    KKK robes? No talk about white people are evil? yes
- UnpossibleJim 5y ago
  Here's the best I could find... I was a little bewildered by this, TBH. I thought, as long as your political beliefs didn't cause a distraction at work to yourself or others, you were safe from being fired. Guess I was wrong. At least on a federal level. Different states have different rules: https://sanfordheisler.com/can-you-be-fired-for-your-political-beliefs/ https://sanfordheisler.com/can-you-be-fired-for-your-politic...
  - jellicle 5y ago
    There are only a couple of US states that have something along the lines of "or political beliefs" appended to their workplace discrimination laws. In most US states, it's perfectly legal to announce that you're firing all Democrats, effective immediately. In those couple of states you wouldn't want to announce that, though you could still lay them all off and dare them to try to prove it in court (very difficult unless you've explicitly announced).
- thrownaway564 5y ago
  can't ask here either but easy to figure out by source Get referred through the favored group, you meet political requirements
strken 5y ago
Lawful political beliefs, affiliations, and actions are a protected attribute in Australia[0]. I have no idea whether this forces you to hire e.g. actual Nazis, although they'd probably have some unlawful beliefs. [0] https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/political-belief-or-activity/ https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/political...
lliamander 5y ago
Religion is a protected class. Why not politics? We either need to add more protected classes or do away with the whole concept and return to free association.
- smegger001 5y ago
  implying politics isn't a religion in America.
- nailer 5y ago
  I’d remove religion. Adults choose their beliefs, both political and spiritual.
  - lliamander 5y ago
    Beliefs aren't chosen, or at least they are very "sticky". What you chose is how you let those beliefs inform your actions
    - nailer 5y ago
      Yes they are. Race and sex and sexual attraction are innate qualities. People can and do change their beliefs - I’m not sure why anyone would say otherwise as they can easily confirm this for themselves.
      - Amezarak 5y ago
        Setting aside the question of whether beliefs are influenced by genetics, there's no dichotomy between 'innate' and 'choice.' My religion or political views may not be 'innate' (whatever that means), but they are also not a choice. Can they change over time? Yes! But not because I woke up and made the free choice that today, I will believe something else. You cannot simply decide to truly believe something else in the same way I could choose between two appetizers on the menu. You cannot choose to legitimately hold a belief. (You could choose to pretend to hold a belief.) If you don't believe me, try choosing to believe Nazi ideology is right and true. I would actually say sexual orientation is quite similar. Someone cannot simply choose their sexual orientation. A huge conflux of factors come into play, such that people develop a sexual orientation. It may change as we 'discover' new things about ourselves, but there's no choice involved in how we feel.
Rebelgecko 5y ago
Political activities and affiliations are a protected for workers in California, where most of the companies in the article are based. However in extreme cases (like if you express your beliefs in a way that creates a hostile working environment) someone can still be fired

Political opinions are not protected in the same way, nor should they be, as the protected classes you cite (gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc).

stephc_int13 5y ago

Oh, really? I am not from the US, so I am a bit ignorant about the laws there. In France it is illegal to discriminate against an employee because of his political views. It is not allowed to ask.

frankbreetz 5y ago
What if they have extreme political views? Are you allowed to wear KKK robes to work?
- xenocratus 5y ago
  Having some political views and expressing them at the workplace are different things - that's the whole point of this thread. If your views are that extreme maybe it isn't a workplace that should be taking action? Just a thought
- nefitty 5y ago
  Why jump to the extreme? There are plenty of people who seemingly behave “normally”, but are internally sympathetic to some abhorrent views. Does that mean they can’t write JavaScript as well as the next person? If I’m privy to their beliefs that I find disagreeable, does that mean I should “out” them, even if their internalized beliefs have no discernible effect on the workplace? I’m trying to find my place in the conversation as well. More questions bubble up the more I think. Do I really care that my neighbor is racist if I never interact with them?
- PeterisP 5y ago
  From the employer's perspective, the definition of "extreme political views" would be the labor rights / pro-union parties (wherever there's not a two-party first-past-the-post system like USA, those often are explicit separate parties) and the communist party, but the working class would very much want that employers don't get to make that decision. The criteria for too extreme should not be specific to employment. If some organization is considered too bad to exist (e.g. the Nazi party in post-WW2 germany), then it should be dismantled as such, but if the country considers a political movement legitimate enough to participate in elections and gain seats in government, then obviously supporting that organization or membership in it shouldn't be an obstacle for employment as well. I have no idea on what the legal status (if any) of KKK is today in USA, but whatever it is, IMHO it should be the same both for politics and employment.
- thrownaway564 5y ago
  KKK robes? No talk about white people are evil? yes
UnpossibleJim 5y ago
Here's the best I could find... I was a little bewildered by this, TBH. I thought, as long as your political beliefs didn't cause a distraction at work to yourself or others, you were safe from being fired. Guess I was wrong. At least on a federal level. Different states have different rules: https://sanfordheisler.com/can-you-be-fired-for-your-political-beliefs/ https://sanfordheisler.com/can-you-be-fired-for-your-politic...
- jellicle 5y ago
  There are only a couple of US states that have something along the lines of "or political beliefs" appended to their workplace discrimination laws. In most US states, it's perfectly legal to announce that you're firing all Democrats, effective immediately. In those couple of states you wouldn't want to announce that, though you could still lay them all off and dare them to try to prove it in court (very difficult unless you've explicitly announced).
thrownaway564 5y ago
can't ask here either but easy to figure out by source Get referred through the favored group, you meet political requirements

strken 5y ago

Lawful political beliefs, affiliations, and actions are a protected attribute in Australia[0]. I have no idea whether this forces you to hire e.g. actual Nazis, although they'd probably have some unlawful beliefs. [0] https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/political-belief-or-activity/ https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/for-individuals/political...

lliamander 5y ago

Religion is a protected class. Why not politics? We either need to add more protected classes or do away with the whole concept and return to free association.

smegger001 5y ago
implying politics isn't a religion in America.
nailer 5y ago
I’d remove religion. Adults choose their beliefs, both political and spiritual.
- lliamander 5y ago
  Beliefs aren't chosen, or at least they are very "sticky". What you chose is how you let those beliefs inform your actions
  - nailer 5y ago
    Yes they are. Race and sex and sexual attraction are innate qualities. People can and do change their beliefs - I’m not sure why anyone would say otherwise as they can easily confirm this for themselves.
    - Amezarak 5y ago
      Setting aside the question of whether beliefs are influenced by genetics, there's no dichotomy between 'innate' and 'choice.' My religion or political views may not be 'innate' (whatever that means), but they are also not a choice. Can they change over time? Yes! But not because I woke up and made the free choice that today, I will believe something else. You cannot simply decide to truly believe something else in the same way I could choose between two appetizers on the menu. You cannot choose to legitimately hold a belief. (You could choose to pretend to hold a belief.) If you don't believe me, try choosing to believe Nazi ideology is right and true. I would actually say sexual orientation is quite similar. Someone cannot simply choose their sexual orientation. A huge conflux of factors come into play, such that people develop a sexual orientation. It may change as we 'discover' new things about ourselves, but there's no choice involved in how we feel.

Rebelgecko 5y ago

Political activities and affiliations are a protected for workers in California, where most of the companies in the article are based. However in extreme cases (like if you express your beliefs in a way that creates a hostile working environment) someone can still be fired