Some consider politics to be a taboo subject, yet it’s something of debate rather a lot. Some people fear sharing their opinions, while others will openly talk about theirs. Some can feel offended by other people’s views, and others will support them.
You could go as far as to say there is still very much a political divide amongst the entire world, not just the individual countries. So what impact is this having on employment? There are several reports online about hopeful job hunters attending interviews and being turned down because of their political views. Can employers ask about your political views? Or is it a violation of your human rights? This quick read will explore whether it’s a violation to be asked about your political views in a job interview.
What Rights Do You Have?
There is something called the first amendment. The first amendment to the US Constitution prohibits any law limiting freedom of religion and expression. But does it protect job interviewers discriminating against you for your political views? No. What you might be able to do is find an attorney who can help you file a viewpoint discrimination claim. A court may favor you if they know the type of question you were asked and how you were discriminated against.
You may find that you are not asked about your political views directly but instead asked what you think about diversity. Diversity has long been at the center of many political debates and is a strong factor in many interview processes. There is now such a focus on discrimination that companies set and meet their discrimination quotas to meet during the interview process.
So, as you can see, it’s not a violation of your human rights to be asked about your political views. They may cross a line, however, if they discriminate against you because of them.
What Can They Ask?
You will find that the whole interview is not going to be about your political views. The most common interview questions are as follows:
- Tell me about yourself
- What makes you suitable for the role
- What experience do you have
- Scenario questions
Many more questions pop up time and time again. Questions about political views are very intrusive compared to the ones that are listed above. So don’t panic too much. To get an idea of the sorts of questions that you might have to answer, research some of the most common interview questions.
You’ll be able to brainstorm some of the things you might want to say and will feel far more prepared on the day. As far as worrying about what to say, if you are prompted to answer a question related to political views in any way, say what you feel confident saying. If you aren’t hired on the basis that you did not conform to the answer that they wanted you to give, you can always seek legal help, as mentioned before.
Preparing For An Interview
Interviews are always going to be nerve-wracking, but it is easy to prepare for the big day. The first thing you can do is find out about the company. Companies like to know that you have done your research, and often one of the questions that crop up the most is one about the history of the brand. Or what you know about the company already. You can already tell that it would look bad to come up blank of ideas other than knowing about the role you’re interviewing for. All you need to do is a fact or two to impress.
Try writing down answers to specific interview questions that you think might come up and rehearse your answer. As mentioned before, you will feel so much more confident having some idea of what to say rather than feeling put on the spot. Most people advise that you turn up 20-30 minutes before your interview time. This will give you plenty of time to find where you’re going and to take a minute to gather yourself before you go in.
Political Beliefs In The Workplace
Political beliefs in the workplace are something else that you might find yourself in the middle of. There have been many cases taken to trial over political beliefs in the workplace influencing employment. Political conversations will no doubt come up in some casual conversation.
If there is an election for example, or if there is a new advisor appointed. There is no law to say that talk about political views is not permitted. Some workplaces would even encourage open conversations about it. As long as the conversation is fair and doesn’t discriminate against someone.
What To Do If You’re Fired Over Political Beliefs
If you’re fired because of your political beliefs and want to try and take it to trial, research attorneys local to you and select one to help build your case. You might find that you live in a state where the law covers you if you are fired for speaking about politics at work.
There is something called the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which most employers and employees are. If the political talk you’re engaged in falls under the NLRA, it would be unlawful if you were to sacked because of what was being said. There is some political talk that is not covered under the NLRA, but the most conversation is.
How To Know If The Company Will Care
If you will engage in political conversation in an interview or the office, it’s crucial to know whether the company has a problem with it. As politics can be such a sensitive subject, some companies have a policy that prevents employees from engaging in political talk. To find out, you can look at your contract. Or you can speak to human resources. It’s also wise to brush up on state laws that might prevent you from speaking about some topics or give you the freedom to talk about them.
In summary, you shouldn’t be discriminated against if you are quizzed about your political beliefs. It is also not a violation of your human rights if they do ask you about political views. But some laws might protect you if a potential employer discriminates against you because of your political beliefs.