Can Non-Profit Employees Wear Political Buttons?
Nonprofit agency employees are prohibited from wearing political buttons at the workplace to prevent the general public from considering it an endorsement by the nonprofit or nonprofit employee. This prohibition is governed largely by the IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation statute.
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Federally funded nonprofits
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Employees of nonprofit agencies that receive federal funded grants or loans for programs operated by the nonprofit are subject to certain workplace political campaigning restrictions enacted by 1993 amendments to the 1939 Hatch Act. These prohibitions include wearing buttons in the workplace.
Hatch Act
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The Hatch Act was originally passed in 1939 by Congress as a way to reign in state and federal government employee misuse of office, position or resources to unduly influence elections. The Act limits political activities such as diversion of federal or state funds toward political campaigns and any type of personal campaigning of upper-level federal employees as well as state, local government and District of Columbia employees.
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Hatch Act Violations
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If an employer or employee(s) is found to have violated Hatch political prohibitions, the employer could be forced to forfeit federal assistance. The employee could be removed from the position, and funds used to pay the employee could be revoked according to the website Congressional Research Service.
When Buttons Can Be Worn
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Employees of any nonprofits and government agencies are allowed to wear political buttons away from the workplace, during non-work hours, and not while conducting official nonprofit business.
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References
- CAP Law: Political Activity Q&As For CAAs :
- IRS: Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations:
- Congressional Research Service: "Political" Activities of Private Recipients of Federal Grants or Contracts: :
- U.S. Office of the Special Counsel: Political Activity and the Federal Employee:
- U.S. Office of the Special Counsel: Q&As:
