How to support workers taking political action outside of the workplace

This is a guide by People Support Co-op for organisations looking to use their internal policies to support workers protesting social and environmental injustice, and for workers wondering how their protest activity might affect their employment.

Section 1:

Legislation and Protest

• Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
• Public Order Act 2023
• Crime and Policing Bill
• Terrorism Act 2000 & 2006
• The impact of legislative change and increasing restrictions on protest

Section 2:

Taking time off work to protest against injustice

• What options are there for offering time off to protest?
• If my employer doesn’t offer protest leave, can I still request time off work to attend a protest?
• What risks could we face as an organisation if we offer protest leave?
• Could we be found criminally liable for incitement if an employee is charged in relation to protest/direct action undertaken during their protest leave?
• Are there any other circumstances in which we could be liable for an employee’s actions undertaken during their protest leave?
• What about civil liability?
• Is it more risky if we call it Civil Disobedience Leave than Protest Leave?

Section 3:

Getting Arrested

• What support can we offer to an employee who’s been arrested?
• Do I have to tell my employer if I’ve been arrested?
• Can my employer take any action against me if they find out I’ve been at a protest and/or if I’ve been arrested during a protest?
• Do I have to tell my employer if I am released under police investigation?

Section 4:

Criminal Charges and Convictions

• Do I have to tell my employer if I am charged and released on bail?
• What support can we offer to an employee who’s been charged?
• Is it ok to put out a solidarity statement?
• Do I have to tell my employer if I am convicted?
• Do we have to end the contract if an employee is imprisoned?
• Can we offer financial support to an employee in prison?

Section 5:

Applying for Work with a Criminal Record

• Will a conviction affect me when I apply for jobs in the future?