Hawaii Enacts Captive Audience Ban

Hawaii Enacts Captive Audience Ban

 

On July 2, 2024, Hawaii enacted a captive audience ban, protecting workers from retaliation for refusing to attend meetings or listen to their employer’s speech on political matters. The new law also became effective on July 2, 2024.

 

Overview of the New Law

 

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

 

 

Under the new law, “political matters” means anything related to an attempt to influence a future vote made by individuals in an audience.

 

Exceptions

 

The new law does not prohibit an employer from conducting meetings or engaging in communications involving political matters as long as attendance by the employee is entirely voluntary.

 

Next Steps for Employers

 

To ensure compliance with the new law, employers may consider reviewing formal and informal meeting and communication practices. Employers may also consider training supervisors on their obligations and restrictions with respect to political speech.

 

 

 

Provided to you by Hammett Health, Inc.

 

 

Highlights

 

July 2, 2024

 

Hawaii’s captive audience ban, which prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions against employees who refuse to attend meetings or listen to communications regarding the employer’s political views, took effect.

 

 

 

Hawaii employers may not require employees to listen to the employer’s opinions on political matters.