Can employers fire people based on their political beliefs?

Question

What if the anti-gun Brady Campaign found out one of their paid staffers was a gun-toting NRA member?

Or suppose that Hillary Clinton's campaign found out a staffer was a "big fan" of the conservative Newt Gingrich?

What if an abortion mill found out that one of their recently-hired nurses was a devout, pro-life Christian?

Or how about if the Gay And Lesbian Alliance learned that one of their paid staffers was a "breeder" ?

Or what if one of Al Gore's underlings bought a gas-guzzling SUV?

Answer 1

Gore rides around in a gas guzzling SUV, Brady has armed security guards, pro life Christians don't work in murder mills (or at least I hope they don't - I would doubt their conscience could handle it) Gay and Lesbian Alliance would probably take that person on as a "project", Hillary is a political whore who would take all the help she could get, without question........

In the end, its illegal to fire a person based on their political beliefs.

Answer 2

Some of the situations you talk about fall under different protections. An abortion mill could not fire a pro-life Christian on the basis of faith. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance cannot fire people because they are straight. These are clear cut violations of civil rights.

As far as political ideology goes, in most states I believe you could legally be fired from a job for your political views. Discrimination would occur if you were fired solely on the basis of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or physical handicap.

Answer 3

If that individual is causing problems and creating a hostile work area they may terminate with prejudice.
Some jobs are in right to work states which means that they can terminate without reason simply because they want to.
some jobs have strict codes that state that religion and or politics will not be discussed while on the job site.

Answer 4

Actually, in most places a non-governmental employer can fire someone for whatever they please. This is because of a practice known as "Employment at Will".

"In plain English, the Employment At-Will Doctrine means that employment is presumed to be voluntary and indefinite for both employees and employers. As an at-will employee under the doctrine, you may quit your job whenever and for whatever reason you want, usually without consequence. In turn, at-will employers may terminate you whenever and for whatever reason they want, usually without consequence."*

There are some limits -- contracts, state-federal laws, etc., but not many!

Answer 5

Technically no, but that would depend on the specific job, & how & where the political belief was expressed. Many occupations require an individual to not publicly express opinions which might be detrimental to the firm's ability to conduct business in a professional manner..

Answer 6

I would have to think in the instances you cited the answer would be no. Because those types of organizations are political anyway. But if someone was a conservative boss, at lets say walmart, heard one of his employees was liberal and fired him. Then I think some laws would have been broken.

Answer 7

Legally no, but they will find a way around it, but like the first answer for most of your examples why would someone whose lifestyle is so opposed to the beliefs of an organization work for that organization in the first place.....

Answer 8

no they shouldn't be fired on their beliefs

I would be scared about that nurse though- they may not do their job right. and there are people like that who purposely manipulate things to stop abortions.

(And gay & lesbian alliance does hire straight people, they are called allies)

Answer 9

They aren't supposed to be able to but why would you want to work for someone the opposite of you?

Answer 10

No they can't.