Petition · Department for Work and Pensions
Review laws protecting employees from dismissal for lawful speech outside work
Open for signatures
35 signatures
What the petition asks
Review legal framework for protecting staff from dismissal by their employers for lawful speech outside work. A review could establish stricter duties on employers to show clearer and more demonstrable harm to legitimate business interests before a dismissal can take place.
It has been reported that employees have been disciplined or dismissed for opinions expressed in their private lives. We think this creates a chilling effect on free expression. People should be able to hold and express lawful views outside work without fear of losing their job. We think current protections are unclear and inconsistently applied, which can leave employees vulnerable to unfair dismissal.
Timeline
| 6 Jul 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
35
Status
Open for signatures
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
6 Jul 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.