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Candidate Advocacy In The Workplace
Topic Started: Oct 28 2004, 11:42 AM (259 Views)
cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Everywhere you go people advocate the candidate of their choice. I'm used to that.

Today for the first time in my experience I received email from the founder and owner of the company I work for--I'll just say a multimillion-dollar company with a workforce of around 1000--and he encouraged all to get out and vote and pointed out which candidate--won't tell which--was for what was good for the company.

Many of us were surprised, so perhaps it was the first many had seen such advocacy in the workplace.

Now I know it happens of course. You hear about it.

How many of you have experienced this?

We're wondering is it ethical? Not sure. :dunno:
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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brewster
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
I don't think it's ethical, particularly from upper management. It would be far too easy to turn that into pressure affecting your job... Many would not feel free to make their own choice.

I wouldn't feel comfortable even if it came from another employee, but this is definitely out of line..
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jackd
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On top of being very unethical, it would be totally illegal to do so in our province during a provincial elections.
A corporation does not have any voting privilege and has no legal rights to even try or even suggest or influence its employee, one way or another. A corporation should remain apolitical.
JackD
Walk in front of me, you lead me,
Walk behind me, I lead you
Walk beside me, you are a friend.
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Colo_Crawdad
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Lowell
I will say this. I have been in a public school teachers' lunchroom twice this week and teachers are running scared of being accused of politicking. I was told that if wanted to talk about candidates and/or other election issues, I would have to see them after school off the school grounds. Now, I understand why it would be inappropriate for teachers to talk to students (captive audience) and take stands on candidates and/or issues, but to be afraid to talk among other teachers?
"WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US." --- Pogo
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karmasasha
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If my employer had ever done anything like that it would, I'm sure been with the result of loss of respect from the employees to say the least. (plus them being reported)
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Peralko
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Definitely not ethical, but then again, what is the difference between that, and groups like unions that tell their members how to vote?
In the federal government it is illegal for sure.
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pentax
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Kamloops - BC Interior
I'm not sure if its illegal in BC, as it is in Jacks province, but I would hope so.

However, the Oil Company that I worked for would have any Supervisor up on the carpet for actions anything remotely like that.... :nono:
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DanielDenali
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First, did he ask you how you were? Did he inquire about your job?

If a single word sums it up for me it's YUCK!

Politics, it's like a rash. The more you scratch it the worse it gets.

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corky52
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We sent out an e-mail and a memo to all our employees reminding them to vote signed by all five partners and we allow everyone four hours paid time off to vote. You can come in late or leave early on election day. This is the only political activity allowed by written policy.
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DanielDenali
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Corky- Thats great! What a great way in encourage people to vote.

Years ago you would get a stub from your ballot. If you took your stub in to the bar where I went for beer, the owner would buy you a round.

Do you make your employees show proof that they have voted?
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corky52
Member
Dan,

I trust my employees with a great deal of valuable equipment and even more valuable information, why would I insult them by not trusting their word that they were voting? I don't hire people I have to worry about, I've been burn once in a while but that is a small cost compared to having a free and open work place. Good people do good jobs!
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DanielDenali
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Better yet!
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karmasasha
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corky52
Oct 28 2004, 02:58 PM
We sent out an e-mail and a memo to all our employees reminding them to vote signed by all five partners and we allow everyone four hours paid time off to vote. You can come in late or leave early on election day. This is the only political activity allowed by written policy.




Employee Voting Leave in Minnesota
Minnesota employees are entitled to take time off to vote during the morning of a regularly scheduled state primary or general election, of an election to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Congress or in the office of state senator or state representative or of a presidential primary, unless the election is conducted by mail, without penalty.

Paid time off rules. Time off to vote is time off without deduction from wages.

Employer Penalty for Violation. Fine up to $700 and/or jail up to 90 days
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corky52
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I imagine California has similar laws, not sure, never worried about it. We just encourage the people to vote and hope they do.
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
It was just an email/memo. A sentence or two encouraging all with the value of voting. Then a sentence or two on where a candidate stood re issues relevant to the company.

Day before an email/memo with similar first paragraph. Second paragraph indicating just how extremely tough his decision was this year.


I immediately thought of unions as well as non-union companies in the past.


But it is not like he or anyone in the company could know if you even voted let alone who for. So I'm not sure on the ethics, it wasn't coercive, just pursuasive.

Still it struck me as not quite the thing to do. And I could tell be the murmurs going up around the cube farm others thought the same.

It was also funny listening to others trying to figure out which candidate he meant. They should join a forum!
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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