Hawaii Bars Mandatory Meetings on Political Matters

Hawaii has enacted legislation that prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees because they refuse to attend an employer-sponsored mandatory meeting that communicates the employer’s opinion about political matters. The changes took effect immediately.

The Details 

The law prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise penalizing or threatening any adverse employment action against an employee because they decline to:

• Attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting, or any portion of a meeting, that communicates the opinion of the employer about political matters; or
• Receive or listen to a communication from the employer that communicates the opinion of the employer about political matters.

Under the law, "political matters" are defined as anything related to an attempt to influence a future vote by individuals in an audience

Next Steps

• Review policies and practices to ensure compliance with the changes.

·       Train supervisors on the new law.