In 2014, an employer required me to sign a document promising that I would not express any opinions about that employer to anyone at anytime in order to be employed by them. I needed the job so I signed. If I were faced with the same decision today, I would not sign. No employer can deny an employee their right to their First Amendment rights. When I challenged the hiring manager, she explained that the document was to ensure that if I had a problem with them, I would bring it to them rather than going to the media with it. Wow. Why didn’t they include in their employee guidebook their commitment to their employees and being the best employer they could be, encouraging open and productive communication, rather than being so dictatorial about it.
The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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