Does sending political emails around at work constitute harrassment?

[Pryderi]

Personally, I think it's inappropriate and should be sent outside of work.

[lamp_shade]

1. Absolutely yes.

[TxRider]

5. I would say it's harassment if your asked not to by someone and continue to do so.

[robinlynne]

7. I agree with this post. if you say please dont, it should not happen again. that simple.

If the post is welcome by the receiver, cool.

[cbdo2007]

13. Don't put the burden of having to ask you to not do it on the receiver.

If you don't know how the person will react, you should not send it.

If you know for sure the person's viewpoints and you know they want to receive whatever political email you want to pass along, go ahead and send it.

[surrealAmerican]

12. I agree.

Before the recipient asks not to receive the emails, it's unprofessional and a bad idea, but not harassment.

[Brickbat]

2. It can.

Not every e-mail in every office, though.

[pitohui]

3. it sure can, i would strongly consider it to be a threat if it came from a boss or supervisor

even worse are the xtian emails, again, it's a subtle threat to let you know that you're not on the team and don't share the group think

[FarCenter]

4. Personal emails from a work account is generally a no-no

Unless it is something like "Did you want me to pick up 1% or skim milk on the way home?"

[cbdo2007]

6. It's considered harrassment at my work to even *mention* anything political.

If there's any chance you may be offending someone with anything you do, it is probably considered harrassment here.

[frebrd]

8. It constitutes the use of an employer's time and computer.......

to do other than the employer's work, which is unethical in my opinion. So many people seem to have no compunction about doing this that it amazes me.

:shrug:

[AndyA]

9. I voted yes, but if you're good friends with someone and know they share

a similar political point of view, that would probably be OK, but I would say you'd need to have more than just a casual relationship with them, they'd really need to be a friend instead of just a co-worker.

[47of74]

10. The work place is not a forum for politics

I don't inflict my political views on co-workers. Too bad the conservatives at my place of employment haven't learned the same restraint. Some times it feels like I'm at an goddamn tea party.

[Laelth]

11. No. "Democrats" are not a protected class.

Nor are "Republicans." Creating a "hostile work environment" based upon differing political beliefs is not actionable discrimination under Federal law. Creating a "hostile work environment" based upon differing sexes (i.e. "it made me feel uncomfortable because I am a woman, and the harasser did it because I was a woman") is actionable discrimination under Federal law.

Political beliefs are not protected (generally) unless you are a Federal employee, and for them the rules are different.

State law on this subject may vary.

:dem:

-Laelth

[undeterred]

14. I'm your network administrator

When you started the job you signed a document for the terms of computer usage in which sending personal or political emails is specifically prohibited.

No matter what the specific content of the email is, if its non-work related you can be terminated.

[TheKentuckian]

15. Other: I find it difficult to feel harassed via email. (nt)