We all know that the First Amendment gives us the right to free speech. But, when it comes to the First Amendment, what you don’t know can hurt you.
TRUE: The First Amendment allows people to express their views.
FALSE: The First Amendment protects employees from termination.
First Amendment protection and job protection are not intertwined.
Many private sector employees fail to realize that their right to free speech does not prevent employers from limiting that speech. Freedom of speech in the workplace protects public sector (i.e., government) employees.