Pennsylvania is an “at-will” employment state, meaning an employer may terminate the services of an employee at any time, unless the worker signs an employment contract. In “at-will” states, employers cannot terminate an employee based on discriminatory factors such as national origin, color, race, gender, religion, disability or age. However, an employer can terminate an employee if that employee decides to run for political office or serve their community in some other public role. Often these prohibitions prevent qualified people from running or holding municipal or state offices. People do not stand for office because they cannot risk losing their job and livelihood. When this occurs, our communities lose qualified and good leaders, all because their employer doesn’t want to deal with it.
 
For this reason, I will be introducing legislation that would prohibit an employer from firing, discriminating, or refusing to hire someone based on the individual's political activities outside of working hours. Political activities would include running for office, campaigning for a candidate for public office, and participating in fundraising activities for the benefit of a candidate, political party, or political advocacy group.
 
These employment prohibitions are bad for workers, our democracy, and our communities. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation that would protect an employee's right to engage in political activity.