Joining Political Party While In The Service Of Any Private Sector Organization

Hello All,
I am Ashwini, Asst HR Manager of a IT Company. Is it legally allowed or not for an employee, to join the political party while in the service of any private sector organization.
Let me know your valuable suggestions.
Thank you all in advance.

Dear Ashwini,

Is this query for yourself or some other employee of your company?

Employees in their off-duty hours are free to pursue their hobbies or engage in any legal activity. Joining political party is not illegal. Therefore, I do not find anything wrong per se in this.

However, keep check on such employee's activities. He/she should not use company's premises for promoting thoughts of some political party. Employee cannot distribute pamphlet of any political party. Secondly, employee should not use company's computers for sending mails for canvassing. Workplace has to be kept strictly apolitical. I would rather go further and prohibit employees from explicit expression of their political views. What if there are employees who have contrary political thoughts? Workplace should not turn into forum for political debate!

Above all what matters is performance of the employees. This obsession of politics should not degenerate employee's performance!

Government employees are strictly prohibited from becoming member of any political party. There is no restriction as such on employees from private sector. However, government employees can attend the political rallies during their off-duty hours.

Do you have approved and certified standing orders? Generally, all these clauses are included in the standing orders.

Ok...

DVD

Govt employees are part of unions which are affiliated to political parties. Many are part of some political parties. As Dinesh said, the work place should not be used for furtherance of their political activities.
pon

Generally only public servants (both officers and other employees in govt service) are not allowed to join political parties and engage in political activities. In PSUs officers are public servants, so the restriction applies. Workmen are not prevented from joining any political party, any political activity is prohibited in the factory/office premises. These restrictions arise from rules having statutory force.
In pvt sector there is no such restriction, as per any statutes. But at the same time, I think, there is also nothing to prevent the management to prohibit joining political parties/activities as part terms and conditions of service for officers/through standing orders for workers.

Dear Ashwini: The restriction imposed in Government service is due to the reason that in administering Government policies in a Welfare State there shall be no fear or favour on the part of Government servants. By becoming active political activists, they may become biased or the suspicion would persist, so there is an express ban on political activities. In private sector there is no such possibility, being commercial enterprises, they look for ways and means to enrich themselves and active political involvement is not ruled out. But, it is a moot point that in private sector, do employees have any time left for pursuing political activities?

If your terms & conditions of apptt or SO does not prohibit, yes you can actively involve in politics. Why this doubt in you. You have many examples in India. You know in recent times - Nitin Gatkary of BJP, Scindhias of Congress, Madam JJ of AIADMK (remember TANSI case), Dhayanidhi Maran of Sun TV (remember 2G). I think atleast 50% of our politicians, one way or other involve actively either in business or part of a business in private sector. And no doubt would have some links with scams.

Dear Ashwini,

Normally we do not allow the employees to participate in the Politics or even for most of the private ltd companies do not go for a person with political background.

Now there is a need of One on One session with the employee to clear out if the person is opting for a full time commitment with Politics or as a part time hobby. If he has asked you for the permission for the same that describes he wants to get into the Politics for full time basis. So in my opinion, I would rather clear out the company's goals and objectives towards the employee, also there might be a clause in your appointment letter mentioning the same.

So If the employee is opting for the Part time services with Political parties like Rally's etc then make sure that its not going to affect the company's targets and work load. you can check about his attendance record on the same also its better if you keep your view clear infront of the Employee.

At the end its going to be Management's call so do check with the Seniors about the same.

Dear All,
We want that political parties in outside of the organisations. If any of the political party joined in an organisation they will start the different types of groups inside the organisation. In this way he can demotivate the labors work commitment. In that thing will affect the organisation productivity.
So my personnel suggestion is that the political background persons do not permit to enter into the organisation.

I do not think anything wrong in joining a political party by any employee working in private sector. We are living in a democratic country.
But at the same time, private company management should ensure that their employees should work in their workplace, and they should not
use their workplace as a platform for their political career.
My suggestion is that, management should make a model standing order for the company, clearly indicate this aspect and
implement it at their work place.
R K Nair

Its a fact that politics is more in private sector rather then in public sector politics is everywhere and that person is getting a chance to explore himself through politics allow him to join political party.