Did you know that 14 years ago Oregon and Wisconsin passed similar legislation known as the “Captive Audience Legislation” which prohibits employers from taking adverse action against an employee’s refusal to attend an employer -sponsored meeting or otherwise listen to speech or even view communications in which the primary purpose of which is to communicate the employer’s opinion’s or “religious” or “political” matters.
Other states passed similar laws such as New York, Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin (Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, Wis. Stat. 11.31). In the midst of political polarization there is a new push to enact this type of legislation. NE States such as Connecticut passed Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. 31-51q, effective July 1, 2022 that included company meetings related to union representation. This created a business uproar and the suit is pending. The suit alleges the law violated employer free speech rights and that law is preempted by the NLRA.
What Should I Do? Ask the employee about their concerns of meeting attendance and contact your HR representative. GourmetHR, recommends contacting
Download your copy of the Oregon poster and stay tuned for more information.
References: Fisher Phillips, 2023. 2023, BOLI