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5 Tips for In-House Lawyers This Election Season

By Casey C. Sullivan, Esq. on July 28, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

We're coming to the end of the major party's national conventions this week, and the election season is about to go into overdrive. So if you think you've heard enough about Trump and Hillary this summer, get ready to hear even more -- and that includes political talk (and more) at the office, something that could raise some tricky legal, HR, and management concerns.

To help you out, here are our top pieces of advice on politics and the workplace, from the FindLaw archives.

1. Office Politics: What to Do When the Election Comes to Work

For many people who are with her, or feeling the Bern, or dying to make America great again, politicking isn't an after-hours hobby. But campaigning can be disruptive when it leaks into the office. Here are some bits of advice, from setting party-neutral policies to avoiding claims of political discrimination.

2. Should Employers Restrict Political Speech at Work?

If you want to prevent potentially morale-damaging political disagreements at work, is the solution silence? If you wanted to ban political speech at work, could you?

3. Would Your Company Benefit From Immigration Reform?

There's been plenty of criticism of President Obama's immigration actions, including one major program which was effectively defeated by a deadlocked Supreme Court just last month. And there are certainly many who are critical of Donald Trump's and Hillary Clinton's immigration policies. Which is to say, immigration is bound to remain a central issue this election season. But, speaking business-wise, how would immigration reform effect your company's bottom line?

4. Should You Contribute to Political Campaigns?

You can vote with your vote, but you can also vote with your money. And many attorneys and corporations decide to do just that, funneling funds to their preferred politicians or political causes, be it in presidential elections or small-town races. Should you?

5. NLRB Modifies Union Election Rules, With Dissent

Let's not forget about the other type of workplace elections, the ones for union representation. In 2014, the NLRB revised its union election rules. After surviving legal challenges from business groups, the rules now make labor elections easier and faster, setting aside collateral issues for after the election.

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