Are You Keeping Politics Out of the Store?

It’s the season, when thoughts and minds turn to politics. A political discussion is a wonderful thing—with friends. But it has no place in the store. Where political issues get troubling is when employees bring political buttons, signs, bumper stickers, AND especially when they want to turn the TV to the democratic and republican convention. So aside from keeping your own views to yourself, what else can you do to make sure your employees keep their views to themselves while at the workplace?

1. Prohibit political statements made to customers or the general public while on company time.
2. Adopt and enforce a no-solicitation/no-distribution rule that limits soliciting support for and distributing literature about political activities.
3. Enforce dress codes or other limits on employees wearing pro-candidate buttons, pins or campaign paraphernalia when (in the employer’s view) such expressions may negatively affect its business.