The president of a Midwest office supply company is in court after a salesman claimed the boss’ pre-election e-mail rant against Barack Obama amounted to an edict: Vote for Obama and you’re fired.
Mr. Snell was terminated for voting for his presidential candidate of choice.
“Voting for a president is acting in a manner that public policy would encourage as it is similar to civic duties/opportunities such as performing jury duty, seeking public office or joining a labor union,” Snell’s lawsuit said.
The lawsuit, filed in Kansas state court Oct. 6, highlights that there is no federal statute directly protecting private workers from being retaliated for their votes. “There’s not really a federal statute that would cover this. It’s just not there. It has to be a public policy argument that is covered by state law,” said Snell’s attorney, Lawrence Williamson of Kansas.
Hey, it’s hire and fire at will.
The other side of this coin is that an employer can fire an employee known to be a racist, even if they’ve never mentioned it at work.
# 18 That is a good point. I guess it is a two edge sword.
I come from the other point of view, here (in Sweden) we are as far from capitalism you can come without being communism, i.e. citizens have all the rights and companies have almost non.
Here you can only get fired if you repeatedly fail to do your job. Or if there is no jobs for you to do, and then the principal of last in first out is used.
Creepy. Where I live, votes are private.
Maybe he just claimed that he voted for Mr. Obama in order to launch a suit. The double double cross, American style.
Secret ballot, no?
#16, doill,
# 13 had it. That is why we have the secret ballot. Of course Obama wants to get rid of that in union take over bids.
Let me get this straight. The boss threatens to fire anyone supporting Obama. The Employer threatens to fire anyone supporting unionization. And they are both fine by you. When people work for someone, they must do the political whims of the boss or they get fired.
I would love to see you explain that one. Oh wait !!! Never mind, I got it. This was just another opportunity for you to bash Obama. Riiight! You never really thought it through. You never do.