With national and local elections approaching, some in the Lab community might have questions about political activities in the workplace.
Jonathan Nurse, Director of Federal Relations, and Clarissa Bhargava, Assistant Director of Federal Relations, discussed the upcoming elections, your rights as a private citizen, and the Lab’s rules prohibiting political engagement in the workplace.
Read more to learn from Jonathan and Clarissa why this is an excellent time to reflect on our responsibilities as employees, colleagues, and collaborators to live out the Lab’s People Stewardship principles and core values.
Q: We are in a very active political season. What guidance would you give the Lab community about what is and isn’t proper conduct at work, and what should we all be mindful of?
Jonathan Nurse: The rhetoric is a bit hotter this election cycle than we might be used to. However, the basic guidance to our employees remains the same.
Clarissa Bhargava: I agree. There’s been no statutory change for our staff, just perhaps a more intense mood. Employees are free to engage in the political process on their own time and using their own resources, which is their right as citizens of the United States. But while on Lab time or using their Lab devices or emails, they cannot engage in messaging, fundraising, petitions, or even directly making requests of elected officials.
Q: What about requests for information from government or elected officials?
Nurse: We get a lot of questions from Lab staff, such as, “Am I allowed to answer this email I received from a congressional staffer?” There are approved ways for Lab staff to communicate with Congress: through the Government & Community Relations Office. Communication is limited to matters relating to staff’s technical expertise. Generally, it occurs through feedback on legislation, a briefing for a member or their staff, or testimony in a hearing.
Bhargava: There is a clause reiterated in the annual appropriations bill that funds the Department of Energy that says no funding from this bill can be used to influence Congress. If you’re being paid by federal funds, you can’t then turn around and lobby for more federal funds or try to change their position on policies. However, federal agencies and national labs can use official channels, like our office, to communicate appropriate information about their work and their use of taxpayer funds.
Nurse: The bottom line is that if you are contacted by a congressional staff member or a member of Congress, contact the Government & Community Relations Office for guidance before answering.
Q: Should Lab employees be mindful of communications with their fellow employees during this election cycle?
Nurse: There’s also a responsibility for internal communication, whether in a group setting or one-on-one. Because we all work in the same environment, we may begin to believe that we all have the same or similar political leaning or views on the elections. It’s important that we not make that assumption. Don’t assume that you know a colleague agrees with how you see the world. I think one of the things that makes the Lab great is that we have people from all around the country, all around the world, and they are all likely to have different perspectives.
Bhargava: The baseline should be that anything related to political campaigns is automatically an outside-of-the-lab activity. You’re not prohibited from discussing your thoughts about politics and policies with your coworkers, but casual conversations should not cross into political organizing, like soliciting donations, urging Lab employees to vote a certain way, organizing a fundraiser, or, attending a campaign event, and so on. You can get involved in the political process on your own time, outside of working hours, and off the Lab payroll.
Q: What are some common mistakes or misunderstandings employees make regarding political activity?
Nurse: Our community typically finds it easy to identify political activity that would be an inappropriate use of Lab resources. Still, staying clear of inappropriate engagement on policy proposals can be challenging. For example, professional societies occasionally send Lab employees calls to action intended to influence legislation. Those actions are generally considered advocacy. Lab employees aren’t permitted to engage in advocacy with Lab resources, such as email or during work hours. But, they can work with the Government and Community Relations Office to provide technical assistance when requested.
Bhargava: Another common pitfall is people thinking of their Lab devices as personal devices. There are activities you shouldn’t do on Lab-issued equipment, including your work phone or laptop, like donating to a political campaign. Even if you use your personal funds, you shouldn’t do that kind of activity on Lab devices. So, don’t mix personal and private, and if you engage with campaigns at all, make sure you do that on your personal devices.
Q: What’s at risk if we don’t follow these rules?
Bhargava: We’re at risk of losing perceived neutrality. The Lab is a neutral, nonpartisan resource for the country, and we enjoy positive relationships with both major parties. We try to build the Lab’s credibility across the whole of government. If someone is using Lab resources for partisan reasons, that reflects poorly on the Lab, and that’s a considerable organizational risk. Not to mention, you really don’t want to break federal law.
Nurse: There are also consequences for individuals who ignore the rules, potentially including disciplinary action.
