My conservative employer is making threats. (need advice)

[Snoozin]

He has made two threats that were heard by myself and others. I'll just post what he said, and sit back and read what my fellow Democrats think about this.

#1 is... "If Obama gets re-elected and it hurts my business, those who voted for him will be the first to be lay'd off." (he knows who the 4-5 of us are)

#2 is... "If you vote for Obama, you're going to be fired" (todays latest threat)

I know this is wrong and quite possible illeagal? My usual response to something like this would be to simply leave my job for another, but that is not an option right not because of health concerns and the lack of other oppertunities.

I am within a few years of retirement and have no qualms making this jackwagons life miserable. Oh yeah... I live in a right to work state.

This is really stressing me out. What should I do? Have laws been broken? Please advise.

Thanks for hearing me.
Snoozin (new kid here)

[jberryhill]

1. 18 USC 594

It is a federal crime. You may want to contact your local office of the DoJ.

[treestar]

31. Somebody send employer a copy of this:

Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, at any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing such candidate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Maybe that will scare him into shutting up.

[CabCurious]

68. He/She should just document what is said and done, not escalate.

But yes,

The supervisor/boss is being ridiculous.

[CabCurious]

69. Do No Escalate. Just document.

Why does he know you are for Obama, anyways?

The workplace is not where you engage in political argument or expression, in my view.

[elleng]

78. We don't talk with our colleagues and friends

about polital and social matters at lunch? We certainly do, in my view.

[Scuba]

2. Document it. Make a careful note of what was said, who was present, when it was said, etc...

... see if you can get some co-workers to do the same.



This is the least you should do. You may want to consult an attorney, get your notes date stamped/notarized in case they are needed later. I suspect others will have additional good advice.


Oh, and welcome to DU!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. +1 to both of the above

Your vote is none of your employer's business.

[Trunk Monkey]

14. Also get statements from your co workers that heard the threats right now.

before they forget and before they change their minds.

Also if it is legal in your state start carrying a voice activated recorder

[GoCubsGo]

27. Yep.

And, if you miss getting it the first time, just say, as you hit the "record" button, "I'm sorry. What did you just say?" I'm sure he will be happy to oblige you with a repeat performance. They can't help themselves.

[joeybee12]

16. Exactly...at this point document everything while it's fresh in your mind...

Be as specific as possible...date, times, exact words, etc.

[notadmblnd]

49. I had a manager once. He was a bigot and misogynist made terrible comments and threats

I documented everything daily in a notebook. Eventually he was fired and tried to sue. I was called in for my deposition. At that time, I was told by attorneys that these notes are valid evidence. He lost his case and eventually moved on to another job. When the company I worked for was hired to provide facilities management services to the company he had moved to, he was fired again.

[Lochloosa]

63. [phone] to this advice. Make a daily record of everything. And don't discount age discrimination

Any statements concerning your age should be documented.

[Make7]

3. So Obama being President right now isn't hurting his business...

...but if he gets re-elected it will?

That makes no sense.

[liberal N proud]

9. Somehow it does in the twisted mind of the right wing idiots.

[Snoozin]

26. Actually the company is making record profits.

Can u say greed. Oy vey!

[Shankapotomus]

47. He's threatening to fire people because

he knows his side is going to lose and when they do he will take it out on you and the other workers. I would follow the advice of others in this thread and document everything.

[liberal N proud]

94. The company I work for is making record profits and announced a business restructuring plan

This week that will cost hundreds their jobs while paying dividends to the stockholder.

We will not know if we have jobs until November. Meanwhile, all spending put on hold.

They claim high unemployment is the reason for this action. Makes sense, people are out of work, so lets put more people on the street.

28 years for a kick in the nuts because the corporate hogs are servicing the rich shareholders.

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. +1 And the Bush tax cuts didn't work the first time

so we need to do it again.

[slampoet]

5. What state is this? There are many states where you can record anything said to you.

[Wait Wut]

6. Right to work states suck.

He really doesn't need a reason to fire you, but if you can document his threats (with witnesses) you may have a case. Especially if he fires all 4-5 of you. I'd check some employee rights sites (sorry, can't search from work) for your particular state. It is technically discrimination, but it'll be tough to prove. Tough enough that it could be unaffordable to fight. Making his life miserable isn't an option.

Good luck and welcome to DU!

[Freddie]

24. Employment at will

Means you can be fired for any reason except racial or handicap discrimination with limited recourse except collecting unemployment.
"Right to work" (also known as "right to work for less&quot means the state does not allow mandatory union membership or dues payments.
Does your company have an HR dept? Also document *everything*.

[treestar]

32. Sometimes there is a public policy exception

Like the ones for whistleblowers. This fact pattern could fit that.

[Warpy]

35. However, the ACLU might want to make an example of this asshole

especially if he fires more than one person and is very clear on why, that he "suspects" you voted for Obama but of course he can't prove it. You might be able to retire nicely while he's stuck living on the Social Security he thinks he despises.

[doohnibor]

86. But since this would be a federal crime....

The state's right to work law can pound sand.

[Politicalboi]

7. Or if you can stand it

Make him think you are voting for Rmoney. Say even with all his faults, you will still vote for him. Make your boss so pissed that he doesn't really know who's voting for who. Make him prove you guys voted for Obama. This sounds like you would have a case against him if he fired you guys over this.

[gateley]

65. Or, just say "I'm not going to vote -- I won't vote for Romney and you'll fire me

If I vote for Obama, so neither will get my vote". Then, of course, vote for Obama! It's not worth losing a job, and totally warrants the lie,IMO.

[regnaD kciN]

82. The thing is, it doesn't really matter...

If this is an "employment at will" state, he can fire you for whatever reason he wants. He doesn't have to prove you voted for Obama -- if he wants to, he can fire you for simply having said something moderately favorable about the president or the Democratic Party.

A number of years ago, I worked part-time at a craft store while going to grad school. I thought I was on decent terms with the manager, until she came up with a wingnut theory on how Ted Kennedy had deliberately murdered Mary Jo Kopechne because she had told him she was pregnant with his child. After I pointed out how that didn't make sense (as I put it, even if Kennedy was as purely evil as she thought, would he have consciously chosen a way that would have put his own life in jeopardy?), her attitude toward me cooled and she made my work more and more difficult, before finally "letting me go" (and leaving a report with the corporation that I had been "fired for insubordination," so that they fought my unemployment filing and bad-mouthed me to every other potential employer until I got smart enough to leave my employment there off my job applications). What could I do about it? Nuthin'.

[slackmaster]

8. Four or five of you blew it at "he knows who the 4-5 of us are"

NEVER discuss any political issue at work unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you and your boss are on the same page.

[RKP5637]

33. Yep, it's best for survival, same for religion and other stuff IMO. n/t

[loli phabay]

66. I dont get why someone would let anyone else know what their political views are.

as you say its best to keep your politics, religion and sports affiliation stuff to yourself.

[lastlib]

90. Like Linus said (Peanuts):

"three things in life you should never argue about: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin."

[lunatica]

10. Tell him his threats are violating your 1st Amendment Rights of free speech

Your vote is Free Speech. It's also no ones business but yours. In the US our votes are considered secret ballots which means the vote is counted as anonymous. You don't have to tell anyone how you voted.

I also think that it's illegal to coerce someone into voting in a way that is against their will. It's probably fraud, and most likely a federal crime.

[Motown_Johnny]

12. 1st amendment...

[lunatica]

13. Thanks! I guess I must have thought of shooting him!

I corrected it. LOL!

[jberryhill]

73. It is an incorrect response anyway

[Motown_Johnny]

11. Record him saying that if you can

You are going to need evidence later.

[southernyankeebelle]

18. That is what I was thinking. I would go to your EEOC in the area if there is one. If I were you

I would not talk about politics at work. If you have stickers on your car for Obama take them off. If your boss asks lie and tell him your voting for Mittens. Your have a family to take care of and health issues. But be careful. It seems like we are living in Nazi Germany. If this keeps going on like this before we know it we will be Nazi Germany following the party line. If you don't then your in trouble.

[Snoozin]

20. That is sad...

And frightening.
I wish it wasn't that way, but I think you nailed it.

I'm gonna stand and take the hit if needed. I wont hide under a rock for no right wingnut.

As Popeye said... I yam wut I yam

Peace unto you.

[southernyankeebelle]

22. I now think I understand what happened really in Nazi Germany. People were frightened to death.

You can't blame them when they fear for their families. But when I am out now am very careful who I talk with. You never know what happens. I do have an Obama sticker on my car and I do see others with them also living here in TN.

[ret5hd]

36. Essentially, you are advocating abdicating to the nazi party.

[southernyankeebelle]

41. No, but I am scared. I want to do the right thing. But I honestly don't know until you

are put into that situation. I remember living in Germany speaking with a German friend that I worked with. He said you had to join the youth party. If you didn't it was bad on their families. So I want to say no I want to do the right thing and stand up yet on the other side I don't know what I would do. I am being honest. Until a person is put in that position we don't know.

[ret5hd]

43. i will only say...

that courage is what one does in spite of fear, not what one does from lack of fear.

have a good day.

[southernyankeebelle]

97. It's easy to say when we aren't in that position. I pray I will do the right thing. Fear is a

very strong feeling. Just listening to my own mother talk about WWII and having bombs dropping over her home was enough to be afraid. Hunger, health of a child that was ill. Like I said its easy for us to sit here on a computer and be brave. It's another when you have family and have to worry about them. Sometimes you have to do things you would never thing you would do.

[CreekDog]

58. but it wasn't okay that many Germans were silent, right?

that's just a horrendous example to bring up in the course of justifying silence -given that we all know what that silence allowed to occur.

[southernyankeebelle]

76. It's easy for us to say because we weren't in that situation. I remember my mother

who was from Italy and right before the war started her father had his own orchestra that played on the radio. He was a professional through and through. However, he wouldn't become a member of the fascist party. He lost his job. He had a very hard time. Try to make a living on principal. His family had hard times. Her brother was in the Navy so he helped provide money for his family. But he hated it. He didn't want to fight in a war. Anyway at the end of the war my mother and her dad had a glass of wine on hearing Mussolini was hung.

Yes your right it wasn't easy. But just think what it would be like if we had 9/11's all over the place. Bombs landing on your homes and not caring who lives in those homes. I don't know how people truly feel. Momma said if americans knew what it was like being bombed year in and year out for 4 yrs we would change our minds pretty quickly.

[RKP5637]

85. IMO Americans have never experienced any of this in the US, so to

me many have a hard time relating to the tremendous pressures when a regime takes over and there is a one party dictatorial system. Options fade. That can happen in any country, the US is not immune.

We have been lucky, but IMO many are working to totally undermine what this country stool for and trying to make it a one party dictatorial system. And some would like to make it a theocratic dystopia. I wish more were concerned especially those that want to enable a truly right wing government stripping away what had been done for "we the people." These, I think, are the scariest times I have lived in the US.

[southernyankeebelle]

91. You are right. The thing is people is Germany probably felt the same way we do until Hilter

was able to get his goons in military power and do what he wanted. Before you know it, it was there and people didn't know what happened to them. We are seening what is happening with the right wing. I just don't know what to do or say anymore. The crazy train left the building.

[RKP5637]

93. My German friends have called Americans "Stupid Americans." That many keep

enabling this rightward march in the US, and that they are truly stupid in that they have no idea what they are talking about, what they are supporting and what they are enabling.

The really sad part is many Americans that really need help are supporting this rightward march and these people they vote for have absolutely no intent in supporting their best interests. It's frightening. I feel we are watching an evil movie play out.

We'll know better where we are headed after the 2012 election.

[southernyankeebelle]

95. Funny thing is europeans see the slippery down hill we are going through.

I remember when I visited my Italian relatives and they asked me what the hell was going on here in america? They wanted to know how people could vote for Bush the idiot. I told them I don't know I voted for the other guy.

[lumberjack_jeff]

103. The only fundamental principle of individuality is thinking for yourself.

I'll be damned if my employer is going to take that away from me.

Record. Document. Resist.

[southernyankeebelle]

112. Good for being brave. I wonder being so brave you put your family at harms way? Just

asking. Sometimes you have to put your pride in your pocket. I want to be brave but I don't know when you look at the bigger picture.

[lumberjack_jeff]

116. No, I don't.

Neither my marriage vows, nor my acceptance of this job included surrender of every single shred of dignity I possess. I was looking for work when I found this one.

There's only one big picture; You do the best you can, and then you die. If I teach my kids by example that their highest and best use is soylent green, I'm a bad parent.

I consent to sell a predetermined number of the hours of my life to my employer in performance of the tasks of his choosing. That is all. This far and no farther.

A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between, does what he chooses. Absent that, he is not.

[southernyankeebelle]

117. Am glad you are so sure. I wish I could be.

[Lochloosa]

60. Depends on the State Laws. Some states it's illegal to tape someone without their knowledge.

[kctim]

15. Alot of them are pretty pissed off

My employer refused to hire the normal 10-15 new employees this year, so been working my ass off.
Also informed us earlier this year that if would be a good idea for us to start looking at other insurance plans for next year.

[Snoozin]

17. He did that last year

Now we have this crappy, high deductable, strict, almost worthless bargain basement insurance.
I miss the quality ins we used to have.

Thank you all for the advice and support thus far.

[DrewFlorida]

19. You may want to try and record or video him making these threats if possible.

Everyone has a video recorder on their phone, if you had the time to start your recorder when he begins one of his rants it would be rock solid proof of his criminal behavior. This kind of threat geos beyond abusive workplace issues, coercing peoples vote is a federal crime of a very serious nature.

Good luck.

[tanyev]

23. How is he planning on discovering exactly how all of his employees voted?

[Snoozin]

25. He knows who the democrats are.

The small number of us have never hid it from management. Nor did we ever think we would need to.

We're not hard to spot...
We're the ones not participating in the Obama bashing sessions.

[tanyev]

29. Not participating in Obama bashing is no proof of a vote for Obama,

and participating in Obama bashing is no proof of a vote for Romney. If he follows through on this it's definitely illegal, and I suspect even threatening to do so is illegal.

[treestar]

28. He can never prove who you voted for

My estimate is that he does not really care; but hopes to suppress a few votes for Obama, hoping his employees will take that threat seriously and not realize there is no way for him to prove it.

[RebelOne]

50. I agree. How would he know unless you told him?

I would not even say a word about who you voted for. Besides, that is a private matter.

[Generic Brad]

99. I agree. Tell him you sat out the election.

Vote absentee if you have to. But don't tell him who you voted for.

In "The Godfather" Don Corleone reprimands Sonny for letting his adversaries know what he was thinking. Don't let your employer know you even voted.

[RKP5637]

30. I would contact an attorney now, ahead of time, if you feel this

will definitely occur. The attorney can tell you what to document and what to do, and will already be on-board 'if' these threats are carried out.

[Initech]

34. It's very wrong and very illegal. Start documenting now.

[cecilfirefox]

37. Perhaps, if your brave enough, verbally mention you know how to contact the (state) department of

labor?

[ellenfl]

38. don't tell him you voted. if he asks, tell him you didn't vote. that's as good a lie

as saying you voted for rmoney but without the ick factor. it's truly none of his business.

ellen fl

[Ineeda]

54. Well, no.

If he dares ask, tell him the USA has a secret ballot for a reason and that it's none of his business. I remember my dad saying this to me back in 1960 when I asked him if he was voting for Kennedy or Nixon. Years later I could read his political positions without asking. He voted for Kennedy, for sure. But he would never say directly, in any election, even local Board of Selectmen races.

[ellenfl]

62. this guy doesn't sound like he would accept that answer, would assume the worst & fire the op! eom

[Ineeda]

70. You're probably right.

I'd probably screw with him, though. "Um, I forget. No, wait. It was Mitt. I think. Yeah, it was. Maybe not. Or was it the other guy? No, no. I think I was right the first time. Or maybe not." That could go on for a long time! And would be kinda fun.

[cecilfirefox]

39. As many are saying, get them all together and START DOCUMENTING NOW. nt

[grantcart]

51. Start a journal, keep detailed accurate notes.

don't exaggerate.

Same thing holds if you are ever in an accident.

[ret5hd]

40. what economic sector are you in?

finance? manufacturing? etc

[Snoozin]

44. Manufacturing n/t

.

[Roselma]

42. Document everything - always. Get copies of

all of your performance appraisals. Visit an attorney to help you prepare, because I think Obama is going to win. It will be a tight race, but he's probably going to win it.

My husband and 1400 other employees won a substantial employment discrimination lawsuit, because they were able to document everything. Every one of the 1400 who lost their jobs were eventually made whole by the eventual settlement. It took just over 4 years (the first year to get the EEOC ruling, 3 years to work out the amount of settlement), but it did work out. In my husband's case, it was an age discrimination lawsuit, because the company laid off 3000 employees nearing vesting in the retirement program. And...those documents meant the world. Documents. Write down every threat - time of day, who was within earshot, other details about the nature of the conversation when this came up.

Additionally, be aware that if he wants to fire you "for cause" to prevent you from getting unemployment benefits, he will come up with some other reason like you taking too much sick time, too long of lunch breaks, arriving too late for work or leaving early. He sure as heck isn't going to cop to laying you off for how he believes you may have voted.

[Trunk Monkey]

111. You'd be surprised

I actually had a boss tell me flat out he was letting me go because of my attendance at National Guard annual training.

Had there been any witness I would have pursued it

[Roselma]

118. Dang! What a

crappy thing to do .

[procon]

45. We just went through something similar with our niece's boss.

There are both state and federal laws against voter intimidation. The Civil Rights Division enforces the civil provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizen Absentee Voting Act of 1986 (UOCAVA); the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter or NVRA); and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). Look them up, hand out copies to your coworkers and your boss.


Project Vote has a good write up on this:

http://projectvote.org/voter-intimidation.html




You can contact the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for guidance or to file a complaint:


"Civil Rights Division staff will be available at special toll-free numbers to receive complaints related to free and fair ballot access (1-800-253-3931), (TTY line 1-888-305-3228), including allegations of voter intimidation or coercion targeted at voters because of their race, color, national origin or religion. In addition, individuals can also report complaints, problems or concerns related to voting via the Internet. Forms may be submitted through a link on the Department’s Web page: http://www.usdoj.gov/ . "


http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2008/October/08-opa-974.html



Go get 'em!

[just1voice]

46. Quit working at Chick-fil-A, lol

So, you're a few years from retirement and you've never heard of any laws making those kind of threats illegal?

I smell bullshit.

[Snoozin]

56. I didnt say I NEVER heard of any laws...

I think what I was trying to say is I am unfamiliar with specific laws pertaining to this issue.
no BS here... I have just never dealt with a situation like this.

I'm not a lawyer. I'm a human.

Also, I have never had much of an interest in politics at all, until I knew I had to vote George W and his ilk out.

[Lochloosa]

72. Just wrong..I know plenty of people that would not know what to do in this situation.

And it's called compassion for your fellow human being.....try it sometime.

[just1voice]

100. You try it, instead of "check state laws" bullshit

Also try looking at someone's motives.

[Zoeisright]

98. That's a jerky thing to say.

Smarmy too.

[randome]

48. Stop Snoozin'.

I kill myself sometimes.

[Zoeisright]

96. You're the only one who finds that funny.

[moobu2]

52. Like others have said document everything and add the times and dates like a log.

Contemporaneous notes with times and dates go a long way as evidence. Your employer has definitely already crossed the line but you might have to prove it.

[Horse with no Name]

53. Tape recorder.

[Lochloosa]

74. Check the state laws on that one....it can be illegal.

[Horse with no Name]

79. It may not be admissable in court

however, could help in other instances.

[greytdemocrat]

55. Fight the good fight.

[unapatriciated]

57. If you live in one of the following states you can record the conversation.

The following 38 States require that at least ONE person (One Party Consent) involved in the conversation has given permission for the conversation to be recorded including the person doing the recording:

Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
District of Columbia
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

This falls under the United States Code: Title 18.2511. As long as you actually take part in the conversation and are doing so in a State that allows "One Party Consent", it is quite legal to record the conversation without another party in the conversation giving permission or even being told that they are being recorded.


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_it_legal_to_record_conversations_in_Missouri

[Snoozin]

81. I do live in one of those states.

Thank you, and thank you all.

[Broderick]

59. My phone is a discretionary form of listening device

It records.

I suggest you do that. he should lose his business if you get fired for your vote that is private and personal to you.

[yellerpup]

61. Check with MasterNemesis

he's up on workplace rules and can probably help you with this question. Welcome to DU!

[Lil Missy]

64. Lie and tell him you're not voting this time. n/t

[Lil Missy]

67. What state are you in?

[Homer12]

71. Document it and send

the Information to the local DA and Federal Labor officals.

[TeamPooka]

75. and update your resume and look for a new job.

as well as all that other stuff about documenting etc...

[scheming daemons]

77. cool story, bro!

[NNN0LHI]

80. Use your imagination

Figure out ever way you can think of to screw him and then do it.

Don

[liberalmuse]

83. It's none of his business who his employees vote for.

That is private, and he can't do a damned thing about it. Stick it out, my friend, because it will be worth it. President Obama will be re-elected and he will forget his angst by March 2013. And he'll never know how lucky he was that Romney lost that election. But you'll know, and that's all that matters.

[DrewFlorida]

84. If you need legal help, I would think the ACLU would be interested in this!

You might want to bring this to the ACLU, they may give you legal support. This issue is not only about worker's rights, it is also about voter's rights. I'm sure this happens in many businesses around the United States. Sometimes standing up for yourself is not only about standing up for you, but also for everyone else who is being bullied and threatened.

Best wishes for your health issues and in fighting for your rights!

[Snoozin]

104. Thanks Drew

I am going to document the words and times. I will reach out to the organizations mentioned here and see what they have to say about it.

Bullied is a good description of events. Right now I'm gonna have a good weekend away with the family and try to put this aside in my mind for a couple of days.

I'll check back in here late sunday with my notepad

Thanks again to all who have shown support. I don't like feeling small and powerless.


Damn the torpedos... Obama 2012!

[otohara]

87. It's Voter Intimidation

and against the law.

Fuck him, how's he going to know if and who you vote for?

If he's serious and fires more than one person...I'd go to the EEOC, but EEOC stuff takes FOREVER.
I sued Clear Channel - it was hard and in the end not worth the money/hassle and I didn't have the EEOC on my side, because of my state's RTW status.
If you have the EEOC on your side, it might be worth doing something.

[cherokeeprogressive]

88. I could swear this is a repost from 2008. Right down to the "lay'd off" and "jackwagon" part.

I've searched though and can't find it.

Either I'm having the most intense deja vu in the history of Earth or this is a repost.

[RebelOne]

89. This is whole thread is becoming ridiculous.

Just tell him it is your business who you voted for and that is why the voting booths are private.

[SoCalDem]

92. Secret ballot

[DonCoquixote]

102. To those that say "Just tell him it is none of your buisness"

You are showing an ignorance of how these people work.

Let's take an office somewhere in Florida. Right to work state.

The GOP, in particular the Christian GOP, will wear their politics like a sleeve. Their Cubicles will have Rush or posters about Jesus. They will not merely be in your face about it, but they will JUDGE YOU BASED ON YOUR ENTHUSIASM. It is not enough to simply not vote for Obama, indeed, you might have been a Republican all your life, but if you are not part of the vocal group that revels in dominance, you are the outsider. Hell, ask how many "moderates" have been the brunt of rage because their tea Party friends feel they are wimps?

To quote a Zen proverb: "Many can read printed books, few can read the UNPRINTED ones."

[Snoozin]

105. You have hit the nail on the head.

I have never tried to hide my support for Pres Obama. My ignorant self never thought I would have needed to hide my political feelings. I thought this was America. I thought we celebrated diversity here. You like mustard, I like ketchup... Yay we all have have dogs!

It never occured to me that we could be persecuted for what we think, feel and believe.
Boy do I have a lot to learn. (rolls eyes)

[DonCoquixote]

110. Thanks, and as I said

Let's say you hated Obama, and I mean hated, the way Ralph Nader does at times. That would not matter. If you are not like THEM, right down to the minute points, you are still an outsider, as many a so called "moderate" Republican has found out.

[B Calm]

106. It's against the law! I wish my employer

would lay me off, then I could just sit back and collect unemployment until I retire next April!

Employers are scared to death of wrongful termination law suits. Like all republicans, the employer is just blowing hot air!

[B Calm]

107. Wrongful termination lawsuit

I've heard of one case where a person was awarded 1 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS!!

[davidpdx]

108. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV

(just thought I'd get that out there )

I have studied business law and that is illegal. You should document it carefully and file a complaint with the EEOC. Then if they side with you and he retaliates you can get whistleblower protection and can sue him and the company. I would start by calling the EEOC and talking to them. You may be able to get an initial consultation with a lawyer for free, but it will end up costing you a lot in the long run out of pocket. Also you could check with the local legal aid office as well.

Some have stated that you should lie and call his bluff. The problem with that is if you do and he fires you and you don't file a complaint, then it will make it more difficult to claim what happened. Being in a right to work state may also make it more difficult. Be proactive and do something now.

The guy is a scumbag.

[sorefeet]

109. I would have said "fire me mother fucker "

because it sound like your intimidating me. It sounds chicken shit that you would fire me because of my vote. Are you that scared of freedom boss?? At least shame him for his words. Make him think of what he just said, that sounds so stupid and threatening. I probably would not have lasted 10 minutes working for someone like that.

[Odin2005]

113. If you are in an At-Will state you are screwed, unfortunately.

[dionysus]

114. cool story bro

[backscatter712]

115. It's against the law, but hard to prosecute.

For your own sanity, I'd suggest quietly looking for other work. Anti-discrimination suits are pretty damned difficult to win, and employers can find weasel-ways to punish you with impunity.

If you're up for the fight against your current employer, I don't want to discourage you - these fights are absolutely necessary for society as a whole, and if you choose to fight, I salute you.

As others in this thread have said, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT! and go see a lawyer, but it may be difficult to win, and even if you do win, you might not make enough from the suit to compensate you for your trouble, and no matter the outcome, your old workplace would be so toxic that you'd likely feel compelled to find other work anyways.

The reason to get in such a fight is for principle, not for being compensated for your losses.

[Curmudgeoness]

119. He's just blowing smoke.

The economy is improving, and as you stated, business is doing great now. "If Obama gets re-elected AND it hurts" his business...so there are a lot of IF's there, and they will probably not happen. As to who voted for who, or voted at all, he cannot know for sure about this.

I think he is just playing the bully, but I would also document as suggested elsewhere.

[PavePusher]

120. Digital voice recorder (they're very inexpensive these days)...

and have it turned on any time s/he's around.

Document, document, document, written and recorded!!