Just as legal rules aimed at sparing female and minority workers the risk of a “hostile environment” can lead to the suppression of workplace jokes, banter and expressions of political or religious opinion deemed potentially hurtful to feelings, so the inclusion of “veteran’s status” as a protected category can encourage the elimination of workplace speech that might offend the group in question — which in this case could lead to restricting speech critical of war or the military. Eugene Volokh explains (Feb. 8) and Beldar comments as well (Feb. 8).
“Veteran-status” harassment
Just as legal rules aimed at sparing female and minority workers the risk of a “hostile environment” can lead to the suppression of workplace jokes, banter and expressions of political or religious opinion deemed potentially hurtful to feelings, so the inclusion of “veteran’s status” as a protected category can encourage the elimination of workplace speech […]
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