Employers can specify TV content in workplace

Yet political differences can be a form of diversity

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., a human resources expert, is tackling your questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world's largest HR professional society. The questions are submitted by readers, and Taylor's answers below have been edited for length and clarity.

Question: The break room at my job has a TV with the news on. It’s OK when my co-workers change it from CNN to NBC, but one day when I changed it to Fox News, I got written up. Is that allowed? – Anonymous

Johnny C. Taylor Jr.: While it may seem unfair, that action is allowed. Every organization has the right to establish its own unique workplace culture, which can include creating policies that specify what content is allowed – or disallowed – on workplace TV screens.

For example, some employers forbid employees from changing channels without receiving permission first. Others prohibit changing the channel, period. In any case, the employer has the right to enact the policy, up to and including disciplining employees for doing what you did.

The real problem has nothing to do with the channel on TV. It’s the fact that a manager chose to reprimand you, rather than start a conversation.

American society is deeply divided today, and these divisions increasingly are putting co-workers at odds in ways that should concern U.S. companies.

Political differences are another dimension of diversity. Companies need to adapt to the new reality that employees talk politics and you can’t stop them

Here’s how you might play your part in promoting civility. Go to the individ ual who disciplined you and make time to talk with him or her. Now, the idea here isn’t to revoke the write-up. Instead, reveal your motives so as to undo whatever misunderstandings might exist between you. Make it clear that you weren’t intending to provoke others or be divisive – you changed the channel in good faith.

Question: I got fired today. Three days ago, I brought my employer a note from my doctor that said I needed three days off of work for a staph infection. I went back to work today, and they told me I had been fired for job abandonment. Can they do that? – Anonymous

The short answer is, yes, an employer can fire an employee in a situation like yours. However, that decision ultimately depends on the specifics of your situation – and the policies of your employer.

I don’t know all of the facts of your dismissal, but one thing I wonder is whether your case was simply a very bad breakdown in communication.

For example, who received your note? Did they confirm receipt? Did you notify anyone else at your organization? Can any co-workers attest to your story?

These questions count, because if you didn’t show up, didn’t respond to efforts to reach you, and your employer was unaware of where you were, they may have genuinely believed you were never coming back.

On the other hand, if you delivered the note, did the right things, and your co-workers have your back, then there may have been a mistake made on your employer’s side.

Of course, whether they can legitimately fire you on that basis depends on their job abandonment policy. Some employers are more strict when it comes to work absences, while others may be more flexible.

My advice is to check, doublecheck, and triple-check your employer’s policies and procedures, and then check with HR.