I need some advice.. rabid Republican coworker..

[cannabis_flower]

I work at a company that has all of us lined up in cubicles. One of my coworkers and I talk about politics. He is a republican and I am a democrat. We get along just fine. We disagree but we are civil about it. I have another coworker who is not civil. Today, like several times before, he has heard my conversation with the other coworker (even though he sits two seats down and across the aisle) and not only disagree with me but yell at me. Today I told him that if he feels the need to butt into my conversations to at least be civil and not yell at me.

I talked to my team lead and he said I should document it by sending an email to my manager. She isn't in today. Her response was to send over one of the other managers who told me that I shouldn't talk about politics and then go tell the other guy not to yell at me. Is that legal? Can they tell me not to talk about politics when the only person having a problem with the conversation is someone who wasn't even included in the conversation?

Sorry for the double post. For some reason the computer at work always seems to spit out double posts. Moderator, please delete any duplicates

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. I used to work at a large multinational

and there were several things that were forbidden - among them certain topics of conversation. Those topics included politics, religion and sexual conduct and preferences. The policy was introduced as part of our diversity training.

edit to add the restrictions applied to both the workplace and to all the time in which one was performing duties on behalf of the employer even if outside the regular workplace. There wasn't a non-fraternization policy so such conversation was permitted when off duty, outside the workplace and not interacting with clients.

[happyslug]

2. As a general rule your employer can ban any topic of conversation

The sole exception being unionization efforts (and even that has to be when you are NOT technically working i.e. only discussed when it does NOT interfere with you doing your job). They are other exceptions, for example gathering evidence of discrimination to present to your employer but like Unionization restricted if it interferes with what you were hired to do.

Now, the exception to the exception (i.e. employers can restrict union talk if it interferes with you doing your job) is restricted. The rule has to be reasonable and no intended to cut off ALL conversation on unionization efforts, just restricts it so you get to do your job (I.e. the rule can NOT apply at any break times, either official or un-official or any other time where it can be shown NOT to interfere with the job you were hired to do). The National Labor Relations Board gets to decide this issue on a case by case basis, but most employers know the rules and makes sure the rules restrict people talking about any or all things NOT just unionization (Most employers don't forbid unionization talk, just bans any talk when customers are present or when any talk interferes with safety or when it interferes with business). At all other times unionization talk is permitted.

Now, what is Unionization talk? Unions maintain that includes talking about each other wages, a topic most non-union employers forbid. Most employers will NOT file anyone over it, for fear that such a person will contact a union (Or worse had been in contact with a union) and get them to file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. The problem is most employees do NOT know this so follows the Employer's policy. If I was an employee I would check with a union to see if they will support me before I start violating a company policy about talking about wages (You will need the lawyer to file the complaint and get your job back, which is one of the reason you have a union, to be able to afford the legal costs of standing for your rights).

Yes, this did NOT start out as a union thread, but it became one for it is the biggest exception to the rule the employer can impose any restrict it wants on its employees when it comes to topic of discussion while at work.