As the 2012 presidential election rapidly approaches, employers
must brace themselves for an inevitable spike in political banter
in the workplace. Indeed, with social and political issues such as
healthcare reform and same-sex marriage on the forefront, political
passions are almost certain to flare in the coming months.
If not properly addressed, political discourse can present
unique challenges to employers trying to maintain a working
environment free from conflict and distraction. Seemingly innocuous
remarks regarding anycandidate or their political positions may
potentially offend some employees, which can lead to an increase in
discrimination and harassment claims.
For a discussion of the legal implications of workplace speech,
see "Political Speech @ Work" elsewhere in this
issue. In this article, we'll focus on how speech can create
workplace distractions resulting in lost productivity as well as a
decline in employee morale. Beyond this, politically
