[jbapple]

> In the US for example, you have the right to free speech. But except in very unusual circumstances, your employer can fire you for exercising it.

Are you sure about this? Are you an attorney? I am not.

I ask because it was my impression that, more than each individual having a right to free speech, each individual has a right to be free from a certain set of governmental restrictions or punishments for their speech, and that this is also true of the non-governmental-employer-employee relationship, but the set is smaller.

For instance, it was my impression that:

(A) People who are not governmental employees have the right to be free from the government restricting them from criticizing Congress in most locations at most times (and have the right to be free from the government punishing them for this criticism)

(B) Governmental employees have fewer rights that (A) in certain respects related to their employment

(C) People who are non-governmental employees can generally be fired for their speech, though not for certain speech, like stating that she is pregnant or whistleblowing to the federal government (under some circumstances)

But I am not a lawyer.

[lowpro]

Free speech applies to to public (government) entities. You can prevent someone from exercising their rights if they are within your private property. In public spaces this isn't the case, as it's public, but an employer doesn't have to allow any freedoms to their employees (minus human rights violations, which are explicitly stated in law).

So a company could say you aren't allowed to say a single word during work hours while working for them. They would also not have employees.