Legal Question in Discrimination Law in Illinois
Politics
At work, I am the only one who voted for Obama. Wver since the election, coworkers have been saying i don't know what i am doing voting for him. everyday was like that. now that he won, they come in with jokes, email jokes to each other not including me, turn on you tube with jokes regarding obama and his speeches. Up to now, they tell me that I was wrong for voting for him that is why the country is in recession. I tell them that the problem was already here before he came into office. They all look at each other and laugh and tell me I don't know what i am saying. Everyday, I have to come to work to listen to all this and i have told them to stop several time and they don't. I don't feel comfortable at all when the subject comes up all the time. What do I do?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Politics
While I cannot provide specific legal advice to you unless you are my client, I can generally say that federal and state law protects only certain types of groups and speech in the workplace, such as those based on race, creed, color, national ancestry, age, ancestry, sex or sexual orientation, but not political speech. Are you saying that you feel harrassed in your workplace because your cowrkers comments are based on one or more of these protected groups? Have you complained to your boss and/or Human Resources Department in writing?
Re: Politics
I guess my question would be, do you feel like you are being discriminated against? Is the nature of your job different solely because of this? I can tell you, I understand the feeling of not having people agree with you politically, but if you can avoid talking politics (because it is unlikely your colleagues will change their minds or they already would have), that would probably help the work environment for you.
If it isn't jeopardizing your job, I'm not sure that you'd have a cause of action, I'd just recommend avoiding discussing politics with them.
Re: Politics
Absent additional information, I do not see any discrimination. Nevertheless, you might want to sit with the head of human rescources to discuss the situation. Just remember, jobs aren't plentiful right now and it might be best from a practical viewpoint, to tolerate the jokes, etc. Eventually, they are likely to stop
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