Some Florida employers are now banned from requiring employees to attend activities that promote sexual orientation and critical race theory.
The Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act (Stop WOKE Act) was passed earlier in the year and went into effect July 1.
Florida Bans Mandatory WOKE Workplace Activities https://t.co/bOl0lkqsee | by @perkinscoiellp
— Daily Law News (@Legal_Alerts) July 1, 2022
Ending mandatory activities
“The new law, which applies to employers with 15 or more employees companywide, makes it an ‘unlawful employment practice’ to require employees to attend any activity that ‘espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels’ an individual to believe eight concepts related to race and sex,” Perkins Coie reported.
“Importantly, this law only applies to mandatory activities. Thus, employers of any size are still permitted to offer activities related to the prohibited concepts so long as attendance is completely voluntary and there are no consequences for employees that choose not to attend,” it added.
Florida Bans Mandatory WOKE Workplace Activities pic.twitter.com/RjxXJ7i7RO
— Vale Bystrowicz (@ValeBystrowicz) July 1, 2022
Already under attack
The new law was attacked in a lawsuit following its passage. The law may be in effect as of July 1, but it’s uncertain how the court will rule regarding its impact in the workplace.
The state has ruled the law can go forward for now, but there may still be challenges ahead.
As far as US governors are concerned. Governor DeSantis of Florida is the GOAT!https://t.co/f9Pdarb5do
— Curtis Hebert (@CurtisHebert) June 30, 2022
“Our legislation would defund any money from K-12 to higher ed going to CRT,” DeSantis said at a press conference announcing the bill.
Companies sue Florida over ‘Stop WOKE Act,’ alleging the right to engage in race/sex-based attacks on employees. https://t.co/ErotLeceN9
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) June 27, 2022
“I view the wokeness as a form of cultural Marxism. They want to tear at the fabric of our society and our culture, really things we’ve taken for granted, like the ability of parents to direct the upbringing of their kids,” he added.