Business owners be careful what you say Re election

http://durangoherald.com/article/201210 ... t-jobs----

Interesting there is a specific state law about this. Be careful! The business owner is warning of reduced hours, etc. due to Obamacare.

"Chris Smith, owner of the Visiting Angels senior home care facility in Pagosa, sent an email to his employees earlier this month, warning that their hours could be cut and they could lose their health care and jobs if Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney loses the Nov. 6 election."

"Under Colorado law, within 90 days of an election a business owner cannot display or send out a notice “containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinion or actions of his employees.”

A spokesperson for the Colorado secretary of state declined to look over the email Friday, but agreed that it probably violated that statute."

LOL wrote: "A spokesperson for the Colorado secretary of state declined to look over the email Friday, but agreed that it probably violated that statute."

But of course, the SOS is a Republican. He's the same guy who launched a massive investigation into alleged statewide voter fraud and found 85 questionable voter registrations -- and the jury is still out on those.

I'm surprised nobody commented on the law restricting free speech? Certainly hardball intimidation of employees would be bad, but simply providing information about the effect of policies? What is wrong with having more information? Politicians are able to outright lie in their campaign commercials, but business owners are told to shut up or be arrested? WTF

"Under Colorado law, within 90 days of an election a business owner cannot display or send out a notice “containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinion or actions of his employees.”

I would think that employees might appreciate a heads up so they could look for other opportunities instead of getting a bad surpise with zero warning. I don't think an owner should tell employees who to vote for, but I think it's fair to tell them how new laws like the ACA will effect that businesses bottom line. Employees can then make their own conclusions about whether a new law may put their jobs or benefits at risk.

Talk about a grey area. Would the ad showing the unemployed wind employee saying he lost his job because of Republicans be the same intimidation tactics? Or even the anti-Bain ads that are showing up again?

LOL wrote: I'm surprised nobody commented on the law restricting free speech? Certainly hardball intimidation of employees would be bad, but simply providing information about the effect of policies? What is wrong with having more information? Politicians are able to outright lie in their campaign commercials, but business owners are told to shut up or be arrested? WTF

"Under Colorado law, within 90 days of an election a business owner cannot display or send out a notice “containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinion or actions of his employees.”

If you can't see the obvious difference between "providing information...expressing a viewpoint"...and: threats and intimidation, then no wonder you have problems seeing truth when it bites you.

I think the key would be how you phrase it. If you say the company will lose business and have to cut the labor force you should be OK. If you say you will fire anyone you suspect of voting for Obama that would be intimidation.

What part of this "phrase" do you not understand: "..containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinion or actions of his employees.”

So Colorado law would violate the Warn act which says you have to warn employees if layoffs are coming...unless Obama wants you to lie because news of impending layoffs make him look bad.

You didn't answer my question...

What part of this "phrase" do you not understand: "..containing any threat, notice, or information that, if any particular ticket or candidate is elected, work in his place or establishment will cease in whole or in part, or his establishment will be closed, or the wages of his workmen will be reduced or containing other threats, express or implied, intended or calculated to influence the political opinion or actions of his employees.”