The recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has ignited a national conversation—not just about politics, but about the boundaries of employee speech and employer response in the workplace. In the days following Kirk’s death, a wave of firings and suspensions have swept across industries, with employers acting swiftly to distance themselves from employees whose public statements about the tragedy were seen by some as insensitive, inflammatory, or reputationally damaging, regardless of the political viewpoint expressed. In assessing whether to discipline or terminate an employee for statements made publicly on personal social media, employers must consider constitutional rights, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), anti-discrimination laws, off-duty conduct laws, and social media privacy laws.

