HR Help by Payroll People June 2025

Jul 2, 2025
Payality Team

In this issue:

Advice: Employees Talking S#!@ About Work on Social Media?
Brain Teaser: Handling Political Speech at Work
HR Laws and Regulations: Federal and State Updates
Webinars: Available on Demand!

In the age of technology and social media, and everyone always having something to say, it’s difficult to manage information about your company. It’s hard enough coming from people outside the company – but what do you do when it’s your employee who is complaining about your business? Can you hold your employees accountable when they’re talking s#!@ on social media? Can you fire them? Find out how A&B Burgers handled an employee rant on TikTok.

Handling Political Speech at Work
Nearly everything seems to be political these days. You’ve probably experienced political discussions creeping into the workplace. Perhaps you’ve even had an employee claim they can say or do something because it’s their First Amendment right to free speech. Of course, the right to free speech is a cornerstone of America and what it means to be American.

But does it mean employees have some kind of free speech rights in the workplace? As an employer, what can you do – if anything – to keep the political peace in the workplace?

There is nothing you can do. Prohibiting employees from discussing their political views would infringe upon their rights to free speech and is prohibited by the First Amendment.
Employers can prohibit all political discussions in the workplace – regardless of the topic.
Employers can limit political speech so long as the prohibition is equally applied and does not interfere with employees’ right to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment.
Employers can only prohibit political discussions if those discussions cause a disruption in the workplace.

Read on to see if you chose the correct answer.