Can my private employer prohibit me from having a political office?
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Can my private employer prohibit me from having a political office?
I would like to hold a non-partisian office in my city as an alderman and have been told that I can not because in the employee handbook it states that outside employment is dicouraged.
Asked on April 4, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Wisconsin
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Yes, your employer may make it a policy or requirement of employment that its employees do not have outside employment--this is legal, even when that outside employment is government or political office. Therefore, your employer could terminate you for having this office. You have the right to run for or have policital office, as long as you are willing to potentially pay the price of losing your job--it's not so much that your employer "prohibits" you from having a political office, as they (legally) require you to choose between the office and your job with them.
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