Home topics small-business-resources legal HR Legal Small Business HR United or divided: when the views of your company aren’t shared by your employees Trent Hancock September 20, 2017 You may have been told once before that it is not polite to discuss religion or politics at the dinner table, but what about at work? The political landscape is somewhat of a mine field with vast political opinions on all matters of social issues and policy, and most likely your opinion won’t necessarily match the person you work next to every day or your employees. Company executives from Telstra, Qantas, Commonwealth Bank, and ANZ have recently taken more active steps to advocate for equal marriage in Australia. By promoting these views, the companies themselves had been branded in support and effectively labelling their employees too. Companies that impose a political opinion upon their employees without consideration of their personal political views should tread with caution. Employers should be wary that their company stance may not align with all their employee’s personal opinions or beliefs and if adverse action is taken against them, it is unwarranted. Social media In May 2015, SBS broadcaster, Scott McIntyre, was dismissed for his offensive tweets regarding Australian behaviours towards Anzac Day. McIntyre lodged a claim to the Fair Work Commission for Unfair Dismissal after his attempt to sue on the basis that his termination was due to his political opinion. However it was rejected. McIntrye, whilst expressing his own political views, he did it on an