I got my "politics must stay removed from the workplace"

[mrboba1]

notice today (as did everyone).
Does this include DU?

text:
With the recent primary elections, we are now into the season that comes every four years for political decisions at the national, state and local level.

Employees are reminded that while all are encouraged to participate in the electoral process, it is very important to keep politics removed from the work place.

Employees should not use work time or state equipment, including computers, to participate in any partisan campaigns.

Sending or receiving e-mails to/from campaign websites on state computers is considered inappropriate use of state equipment. Employees may be disciplined for such violations. If you have inadvertently been added to list serves for any campaigns, you should e-mail a request to be removed and keep a hard copy of that request.

Also, the display of any political materials inside the workplace is not appropriate for state offices.

If you have questions about participation in partisan campaigns, please check with your division director or Human Resources manager.

[PatriotGames]

1. Unless you support bush, right? LOL

[Massacure]

2. I would say this includes not visiting DU on company computers.

[mrboba1]

3. What if I just stay in the lounge?

:P

[jukes]

7. if it's an attempt @ repression

they won't heed extenuating. judge the climate before you proceed.

[mrboba1]

9. its state govt. its always like this. n/t

[Eurobabe]

4. So what about those who get news from Fox.com?

Are they violating this rule? Just curious...double-standards.

[mrboba1]

5. I had a guy bring by the 'W' ketchup crap...

FIRE 'IM!!!

:D

[blackcat77]

6. This is also true for non-profit groups

You can lose your funding and/or your tax status if you advocate partisan efforts.

[Stew225]

8. Damn, I guess it was inappropriate for me to

drag the guy out of the car (with the Bush/Cheney sticker on it) and make him suck on his own exhaust pipe.

[noahmijo]

10. What the hell does this part mean??

If you have questions about participation in partisan campaigns, please check with your division director or Human Resources manager.

So you gotta ask permission before you volunteer or work on behalf of candidate??

[mrboba1]

11. hm. that is interesting.

I think it would just apply to 'work time' involvement.

[noahmijo]

12. Personally I'd be okay with leaving politics outta the workplace

If I was a manager I wouldn't wanna be constantly walking into fights between workers ect, however I would hope that your manager enforces these rules for both sides equally.

Also I could understand a manager taking a little offense to sending mass emails on behalf of x candidate on company time, or performing duties for the candidate during that same time.

[sybylla]

14. I believe you are correct in your assumption

You don't have to ask permission. But there is the issue of campaigning on the government's money in addition to preventing discrimination complaints in providing services based upon political affiliation. It just kind of follows that the law and the government can and does prevent you from openly taking part in partisan political activities, including running for partisan office.

There are some activities you can participate in, I believe you can make campaign donations. In my local Dem party we have former government employee who could be a member and participate in our activites. At one point he was even chair of the party, but he could not help in any way, shape or form with any of the partisan campaigns until he retired last year. We had another state government employee who wanted to run for office but he wouldn't even begin to fill out the paperwork until the day he retired because he didn't want to even come close to being accused of running for office on the state's dime.

[ikojo]

21. Yes, I have friends who work for the state of MO and they

are not allowed to work on partisan political issues.

[Buns_of_Fire]

22. It's covered by the Hatch Act of 1939

...the Hatch Act's most restrictive provision—that persons below the policymaking level in the executive branch of the federal government must not only refrain from political practices that would be illegal for any citizen but must abstain from "any active part" in political campaigns. An amendment (July 19, 1940) extended coverage to state and local employees whose salaries included any federal funds. (Bold mine)

Since you'd be hard-pressed to find any state or local government that doesn't accept federal funds, it pretty much locks it up tight.

http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/rcah/html/ah_040900_hatchact.htm

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Yes it means you can't on the state computer

and it applies to both parties..the reason is simple...EITHER party can make an issue of state resources, i.e. YOUR SALARY being spent for partisan campaigns.

on edit: DU is a website, not a campaign so I doubt it would apply to DU, but posting here is probably covered elsewhere in your employee manual

[CO Liberal]

15. I Work for a Major Defense Contractor

And company policy prohibits the display of campaign posters, bumper stickers, etc. in the building. And candidates are not allowed on the premises. Ever. Which is good, because I was afraid that Pretzelboy would show up some day.

It was bad enough a few days ago, when Dick "Go F**k Yourself" Cheney was speaking at Peterson Air Force Base, which is only a few miles from my office.

[radfringe]

16. my pics, posters, etc.

are all over my office walls

wonder if/when I will be getting that sort of memo?

if so - then the big windshield sunblocker I use will soon be sporting a big Kerry-Edwards pic on it, and I will park the car so it faces the road

[pagerbear]

17. This notice appears to apply only to campaign web sites

I don't really consider DU a campaign web site.

However, having said that, I was also under the impression state and federal employees were not allowed to use their computers for anything personal--that includes sending or receiving personal email, either at their work email address or a personal email address.

Most private corporations have similar regulations, but actual enforcement varies widely.

[SoCalDem]

18. Seeing as how they CAN check where you visit,

I would DU from home until after the election.. :) or maybe use your laptop?? Could they trace it ??

[Courtesy Flush]

19. You're luckier than I am

I work for a state govt too. We can't openly support a candidate, even in our free time. Can't go to rallies, have yard signs, contribute to candidates. Nothing.

We're allowed to vote, work at polling places, and keep our opinions to ourselves.

They tell us it's for our own good, because politicians might try to exploit state employees if we were allowed to campaign. So if they're exploiting, why do MY rights get taken?

[Calico Jack Rackham]

24. WOW!!!

I can see how they would want that kind of stuff out of the workplace; however, how the hell can they tell you what you can or can't do in your free time or what you can display on your own property

[Courtesy Flush]

25. I've asked the same questions

No really good answers, and I'm not rich enough to fight it

[Cha]

20. I might get that because I had an emotional

encounter with a customer to day who told me he should wear his "bush pin" after seeing my Kerry/Edwards pin. I said, "yuck!" and he started giving me rw talking points and I said .."I don't need limbaugh to think for me!"..It was the way I said it,too..very emotional. My bad ..I get crazy when I meet people in reall life that are sucked into being brainwashed. I probably should try and learned how to say things calmly with a smile!}(

[LibDemAlways]

23. Does this include idiots who listen to

Rush and Hannity at work? I just quit a part-time job in an office where two morons in my department listened to that shit all day long. I used a walkman to drown it out, but it was damn awful just the same.

They also had pictures of the chimp in their cubicles. It was repulsive.