Google Cannot Restrict Employees’ Free Speech According to the Government

The National Labor Relations Board ordered Google to remind employees that they have the right to talk about politics and other issues at work.

Federal regulators recently reached an agreement on a proposed settlement on employee complaints that the company restricts free speech. This settlement followed a set of community guidelines released by Google that discouraged employees from talking about politics on Google’s internal mailing lists.

Several workers filed complaints. One employee claimed he was fired for expressing conservative views. Another claimed that he was punished for posting negative opinions about a Google executive on Facebook.

A Google spokesperson denied that the settlement deals with political speech inside the company.

Additional Resources

Government orders Google not to restrict employees’ free speech, CNBC, September 12, 2019

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