Political expression | How to avoid tricky free speech issues in the workplace

The volatile and divisive domestic political climate continues to spill over into the workplace, forcing employees and employers to consider a whole host of issues around First Amendment free speech rights and other legal considerations.

In the latest episode, two Smoothie King employees have been fired after refusing to serve a man wearing a President Donald Trump hoodie, again putting political free speech and workplace rules in the spotlight.

Erika Lindemyer and her husband, Jake, went to the smoothie franchise’s Ann Arbor outlet, and were denied service by two employees who said they were uncomfortable because of the Trump hoodie, according to a video Erika Lindemyer posted online.

In the video, she told one of the employees: “We were just wanting a smoothie, and you literally looked at us, and I asked you if everything was okay, you said we don’t feel comfortable serving you because of my husband’s hoodie. That is discrimination.”