Should It Be Illegal To Fire Someone For Their Political Beliefs?

[Physics-Man]

Yes

No

Other

[WhiteSteve]

Tough one. Some chucklehead just got fired for proudly calling himself a fascist and kind of shrugging about the Nazis and not really condemning them. I’m not sure what he did for work.

There’s an aspect of it where the business needs to protect itself from boycotts and bad publicity. Like if a business was employing a known fascist and Nazi sympathizer, I’m definitely not going to support that business.

This isn’t just “they voted for Trump”, these are things that are flagrant violations of everything I thought we stood for as hopefully-decent Americans. Like we literally fought wars against this stuff and came together as a nation in opposition to it. Now some of the same people who claim to be the most pro-America are also telling us, with straight faces, that shit like that isn’t so bad. I mean…. what the fuck happened? How did we end up here? Lot of WWII bodies on full spin cycle in their graves in Arlington.

It’s hard for me to argue that holding those sorts of beliefs ISN’T anti-social behavior and terribly destructive towards the goals of everything I thought America strived to be.

This stuff used to get you knocked out and left bleeding in the moonlight in America, even by some hardo old white guy “patriot” in some kind of “Veteran” hat. I want that America back, the one that still had all kinds of fucked up problems, but no matter what, we could all agree we were against fascists and Nazis. Like seriously, what the FUCK is going on in this country these days? Who have we become, as a people?🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Anyway….. in a case like that, I get it from the business’ standpoint. We then get into the worst argument of all: “But who gets to say what’s ok?” I’m so sick of that. DECENT PEOPLE. GOOD AND DECENT PEOPLE. People who operate without being under an umbrella of shitty negative attitudes towards and perceptions of other demographics, and dumbass hierarchical worldviews that just so happen to always conveniently benefit them, or at very least, don’t work against them.

I just feel like it’s some pretty basic stuff here. Empathy good; lack of empathy bad. Respect good; disrespect bad. Love good; hate bad. Inclusion good; exclusion bad. Acceptance good; rejection bad. Help good; harm bad. Like what are we even talking about?🤦‍♂️ How are those, in any universe, points of contention? Legitimately —Jesus Christ on a pogo stick— what the actual fuck?

I’m in utter shock and disbelief that this is a real thing that’s happening in real life. It’s disbelief as much as it’s disapproval. Truly shocking to even be engaging in debate like this with other human beings, it’s like a bad movie no one would believe.

So I say all that to say that, I’d typically say “no, you shouldn’t be fired over your politics.” I think we’ve just entered a weird gray area where we’ve apparently thrown common decency out the window as Americans, so those assumed guardrails of “well, that problem would never arise, because what kind of monster-with-mass-societal-backing would need to exist to even say/do something THAT egregiously out of bounds?” are no longer there. We have tens of millions of them, it looks like. Again, I’m as truly shocked as I am anything disdainful.

[findacure4wokeness]

If you want to see violence between people who disagree with each other why not move to the middle east or something?

[Datboi65]

The people making the argument to make it "illegal" to fire Nazi sympathizers are mostly brain dead. Most of these people can't even distinguish between law and policy lol.

[findacure4wokeness]

@Datboi65 Are you even smart enough to win a debate against them though?

[WhiteSteve]

@findacure4wokeness It’s got nothing to do with using violence, it’s about where our moral standards have fallen to and where the line for “egregiously unacceptable” has slipped to.

People are just saying things out loud now and it used to be that personal shame and guilt (not just social pressure) prevented you from even thinking like that, let alone saying it aloud and publicly. It’s just thoroughly shocking, I can’t believe these are fellow human beings who live amongst the same society I do. That’s truly horrifying, down to my soul.

[WhiteSteve]

@Datboi65 I’ve never seen adults so blatantly trying to tailor the rules to fit their own interests and desires; like running a track meet, but in sneakers, but you’re actively trying to rig the rules where everyone else in the race has to wear steel-toed work boots. And they think no one else is wise to it, it’s unbelievable🤦‍♂️🤣

One time I played my dad in Go Fish. I had worked backwards and rigged the deck so I would win. I knew what he had, and the deck was in a sequence that would always benefit me. I thought I was wicked slick. But my dad was smirking before long, and said “I think you messed with the cards ahead of time, didn’t you?”😜

Point is: I was FIVE. These grown ass adults try to do the same exact shit. Either THEY’RE incredibly stupid, or they think WE’RE incredibly stupid, lmao

[Datboi65]

@findacure4wokeness Conventional wisdom tells you that debating intelligent people is difficult, but debating idiots is impossible.

[Datboi65]

@WhiteSteve I watched a video on YouTube called "the 5 laws of stupidity" by a guy called "MR. BRAIN" and I recommend you check it out.

He goes on to explain that in essence stupid people aren't necessarily always low in intelligence or education, rather they are the people that consistently support bad faith actors that go against their own - and everyone else's - interests. This is why you can have people like Jordan Peterson for example being in support of Trump, despite being a university professor.

I strongly recommend you watch it.

[WhiteSteve]

@Datboi65 absolutely will, I appreciate the recommendation👍👍

[findacure4wokeness]

@Datboi65 debating an idiot is difficult if he is honest with truth on his side too.

[findacure4wokeness]

@WhiteSteve the Nazi party doesn't exist anymore Hitler Along with many other people knew the Jews where going to continue to try try again until all white people will be eradicated from the face of the earth. Does realizing this Jewish for us hate make me a fascist, a Nazi? Do I deserve to be knock out? Is a white person that realizes the hate others have for us the only true hate?

[WhiteSteve]

@findacure4wokeness that dynamic you’re describing doesn’t really exist. Jews aren’t trying to eradicate white people, full stop. They also are largely white themselves, so that doesn’t really make sense. Not for nothing, I don’t think I’m aware of any major historical movement that just targeted white people for the sake of targeting white people. The original sin in any situation like that was committed by white people, usually in the form of colonialism, imposing Christianity on other cultures, etc.

And the common denominator in all those incidents is that white people rolled out of bed one day, decided to trek over to somewhere they don’t belong, and try to insert themselves in aggressively and in a dominating fashion. Like just moving in and taking over, at no one’s request. That’s monumentally uncool, to put it lightly.

Disdain and push-back towards any white group originates FROM THAT. The white people are never just minding their own business and someone else invades them. Maybe Pearl Harbor? Other than that, I can’t think of much, or you’d have to go WAY back to barbarian days.

Meanwhile white people have historically gone around the world kicking doors in and acting like they did the locals a favor in doing so. That’s fucking crazy, man.

[findacure4wokeness]

@WhiteSteve There will always be exemptions to the rules but generally Jews identify as Jews first. Every other group throughout human history has been kicking in doors and being even more barbaric then us but it's but only white people are expected to be punished for it. Why do you think that is? Today everyone respects the self determination of others but there is only one ethnic group that is denied this human right. White Countries and only white countries are for everyone.

[Kattsnaiper]

Of course.

[OlderAndWiser]

A person can only be fired for their political beliefs of they are expressing those beliefs in the work place. Politics has become a battleground on which many people are deeply polarized, energized, and animated. In small workplaces, significant political differences have the potential to cause disruptions and reduce workplace efficiency/profitability.

[Screenwriter]

It is according to what HAPPENS with an employee because of their political beliefs.

At my workplace there was an employee who was spouting disapproval of the U. S. situation with Israel and the Palestinians TO CUSTOMERS, who complained about her. Her coworkers complained too.

My boss is in business to make money and keep his business running. It's a furniture warehouse, not a coffeehouse where people chit chat with friends. We are not there to offend customers or cause a commotion over politics.

That person did not understand what a business IS: It's not her personal platform to spout opinions. It's where she gets a paycheck.

And if she' jeopardize s, not only her paycheck, but everyone else's, and the business's ability to run by offending customers, she should be fired.

Luckily, she quit before that had to be done. But the boss was at his limit.

We think she acted in this manner because she wanted to quit. But it's a poor way to end your tenure.. Ruins your chance to get recommendations, which is always a plus.

In a private business, this is a completely legal stance for a business manager or owner to take. An employee causing conflicts with coworkers and customers has behavioral problems that can only be solved by removing them. There was no position at her job where she was not performing customer service directly. So she was inappropriate for the job.

Do your protesting and political actions ON YOUR OWNTIME. It's the old adage: Don't Shit Were You Eat!

[Sirenboobzilla]

Only if their ideologies interfere with day to day operations and clientele. My company fired 3 people earlier this year for putting giant TRUMP flags on company vehicles. Mind you, the owners of this company are Republican, but they don't want the company name and logo associated with politics.

[blackeagle007]

Bingo

[Avicenna]

That depends on the circumstances- for example, Planned Parenthood can’t be expected to hire or retain pro-life employees and the ADL can’t be expected to hire or retain people who hate Jews. But if we’re talking about private or public organizations that are not de jure political or religious, then no, they should not be allowed to discriminate absent disruptive behavior or insubordination. Nor that if an employee or manager is creating a hostile workplace for others due to their political views, it’s obviously not discriminatory to fire them.

[Anonymous]

Work is for work and people need to remember that. I've never worked in an office where they allowed anyone to display any political affiliations for just such potential reasons as it might disrupt the work environment if said beliefs are counter to the vast majority. That being said, if someone's political beliefs are to kill certain members of your staff, and they were vocal about it, or displayed such messaging, or were sending out emails at work, for the safety of all, it would be well within a companies right to fire said person.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

That’s such an odd phrase, “political beliefs.” Obviously religion is a protected class against discrimination, no one is going to fire you for believing in a different god, but political beliefs? Politics are intersectional and secular, they don’t really have gods in politics. I imagine the only reason someone would be fired for their political identity (because let’s be real it’s the identity politics that’s more of the issue than what they believe) is because they made it an issue at work, starting fights over a difference in ideologies, refusing to work with certain clientele based on perceived political identities, basically performing a form of discrimination themselves. If I was a manager working with an employee that refused to work with someone based on their politics, I’m not sure how long they would even stay there willingly, let alone whether or not I’d have to fire them.

[MrOracle]

What they believe shouldn't be an issue. How they behave is a completely different issue.

When you are employed, you are, to various degrees, a representative of your employer. That's going to be to a much larger degree if you are on-the-clock or on company property or in company uniform, then if you are on your own time. But even then, very extreme behavior is probably not going to be acceptable to most businesses.

It's not about what you believe, though - it's about how you behave. If you are behaving in a despicable way, or being violent, or otherwise breaking the law, it's not your beliefs that get you fired, but your behavior. Plenty of people have despicable beliefs, but they keep their jobs because they don't act out.

[Zack-Bann]

In most places around the world (the civilized places at least) it IS illegal as the day is long


Most workplaces do attempt political neutrality to avoid unproductive conflict but political views are hard to hide


So people just tolerate each other

[BarryLiverstone]

A belief is an internal idea, a faith in something (hopefully ) greater than ourselves. If it’s purely a belief but the person at work is professional and does their job, doesn’t disrespect the company in and out of work it’s all good. But they can be fired if they take action to harm the company.

[Datboi65]

Well, according to the 14th ammendment, companies are people. According to the 1st ammendment, people have a right of self-expression and firing someone for their political beliefs is still within the right of said company, thanks to the 1st ammendment.

It seems to me like you have an issue with the constitution, not with "cancel culture". Making such firings "illegal" is unconstitutional.

[Chazmatazz269]

It should be illegal to fire someone strictly because of their beliefs of any kind. However, when an individual’s belief system is used to disrupt the work environment, reduce productivity, and/or intimidate colleagues and coworkers, there should be no protections from the consequences of their choices.

[iFarted]

Nah, I don't think anyone should get fired for their political beliefs. However, if there are workplace rules that prohibits bringing up politics and the rules are broken then yes. Fire the individual.. the workplace is for work, go to work and perform your tasks. Leave your political beliefs outside of work..

[JesseP1nk]

I dont know how it is in the the US but in Estonia you boss can't ask your political views, religion of you and your family members religion, your sexual orientation, your relationship status (married, single etc) if you have kids or if you plan to get them.

[Miristheiss]

Mmmm, probably not. There could be exceptions but overall, no. What they do with those beliefs publicly could possibly get you fired.

For instance. If I pay you to do a job then just do your job. If the public comes in to the business, I am not paying you to make a bunch of political commentary to our customers which could drive some of them off.

[WindAtMyBack]

It should be legal to fire someone for any reason whatsoever. Just like it should be legal for a person to take employment with a company for any reason whatsoever.

Smart companies will never give a reason for firing someone though. They will just say "Your services are no longer needed." and leave it at that.

It amazes me how many companies actually give a reason. That's just stupid.

[KostasKouvalis]

Isn't it?
I know you can get fired for expressing them, but I don't think you can get fired for having them
Although people get fired for making social media posts that aren't work related, which should 100% be illegal
The issue is, in MY state for instance, they aren't required to tell you wjy they're firing you

[BadApple69]

I said other. Yes it should be illegal to fire someone for their political views BUT their views should stay out of day to day work.
If a worker is disrupting the business with their views or bothering customers then yes you need to fire them.

[lilBigPotato]

Yes unless it stops them from doing their job or they have extremist and potentially illegal views

[FreyaRed]

In my country this would be anti-constitutional. With good civil lawyer the employer who fires a person for being part of political option would have to pay financial compensation and employ the person again.

[Razp_Sorbet]

Yes if its simply our views do not align. But if someone's views impact other people negatively i. e you're a doctor and refuse to treat a patient because they're pregnant and unmarried. It should be legal to fire them.

[Surely]

Anyone can have their own opinions and beliefs. Just not cause hate and discontent at the workplace. Nor try to ram the opinions down somebody’s throats!

[Snakeyes7]

It depends. If this person uses the business as their own soapbox then they should be fired because it will alienate potential customers. Otherwise, it would not be justified in my opinion.

[Dargil]

There should be something else like creating a hostile work environment.

[Flowersareawsome22]

I fired people because they decided to be stupid Catholics and said stupid stuff like oh The Virgin of Mary is the queen. BS!

[blackeagle007]

It should. I don’t care what your beliefs are. Just keep political talk out of the workplace. Come to work, do your job. That’s it

[seeyounexttuesday]

No it should not. Should a jewish person be forced to work with a muslim who wants to kill everyone in his religion?

[Cubus]

Yes, unless those are extreme beliefs that pose a danger to the stability of the country.

[genericname85]

well it should and it is. there's one "religion" where my society created an exception. you can't be denied certain jobs, if you are part of scientology in germany.

[Dongie]

Yes, unless they're democrat. 😅 most are crazy as hell!

[molonski2]

You certainly could never do that here.

NO way !. Would cost an employer plenty.

[Alex-Snow]

Yes, we live in a free country (contrary to what Trump says) and there is something called Freedom of Speech

[blackeagle007]

😆😆😆 @ Trump

[standardguy]

Yes. A country you can be fired due to political opinion means that's not a real democracy

[beefcakebradybatson]

Yes, unless the profession of such beliefs interferes with their performance.

[californiareaper]

As long as they are keeping their politics out of the office, yes it should be illegal to fire them. They can't keep their politics and work separated then they should be fired.

[Agape93]

Nope. We fire you for any legal reason, my company has fired people before for their political leanings.

[Coden7]

I miss the days when your expected to leave those things at home. Now with Social Media it seems like it’s becoming less and less possible

[DrPepper12]

Depends. If your hiring staff for the zaire embassy you might not wanna recruit out of MAGAstan

[SuperZonicGUY1992]

I will tell you what should be illegal. BEING FAT! I got switched my seat at a plane over because this Ms. Piggy Karen couldn't fit her huge fat ass. So being fat should be illegal.

[SmokinAces2000]

Lmao i’m assuming you’re talking about the idiot that got fired for saying he was a fascist and downplaying what the Nazis did to the Jews. If that’s what we are calling “political beliefs” then not only should it be legal to fire people it should be encouraged and celebrated.

[Physics-Man]

I haven't watched that video, but I've heard others talk about it. Regardless of whatever they were, "political beliefs" are technically still political beliefs; encasing the words in quotation marks doesn't make them not. You should be allowed to say what you want, as long as you're not physically hurting others.

[Vick2828]

Only if it’s racist, for example, if you believe immigrants should get their green card before entering a country, then that's fine. But if you say you hate immigrants and you don't want them here, then you should be fired.

[Shiprex]

If it gets in the way of them doing their job properly then absolutely.

[fonduegirl]

Of course, unless they're being racist, ableist or misogynistic.

[LiamJHayden]

It depends. If you are running a political campaign and the employee is outspokenly on the other side, why would you want or trust the person?

[Redgreenwood]

It is illegal in most countries now - so hopefully it doesn't happen

[qwerty2469]

Its in the HR manual. If you talk about politics enough that they know who you voted for, you should be fired.

[dragoblack]

Well there used to be something in place, but maga hated DEI, which protected employees from discrimination... And maga screwed it for everyone.

[Anonymous]

If it interferes with thier job? Absolutely!

[JailyneMariaH]

yes it should be in america

[dustybiker2]

Why would anyone want leas rights?

[exitseven]

Yes, good luck enforcing it.

[Anonymous]

Yes This is not ethical

[Sabretooth]

reputation is important.

[Smegskull]

It is already illegal.

[Anonymous]

No, but in some countries it's normal.

[forensicexpert]

Of course.

[ethem438]

İ say yes

[jimmy2]

Happens all the time