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While they may not be able to get you into trouble at your current position, you should also consider how they’ll impact your future employment.
Many employers look at candidates’ social media accounts during the hiring process. What you call “heated” debate may be perceived as an inability to listen to others’ points of view, which is a major red flag in a team member. Further, companies have to consider the risk associated with hiring specific people — companies often come under fire for the private actions of their employees. Given two candidates with equal qualifications, a company will likely pick the one with less risk, considering inflammatory comments made online. Why take on unnecessary risk? We have seen this come to light in major companies like Disney to the point of people boycotting them because of posts on social media from a decade prior.
If your family is raising concerns, you may want to consider how your posts would seem to someone thinking of hiring you in the future, regardless of what you’re “legally allowed” to do. Legal actions still have consequences in the real world.
If you feel you must post this question, then listen to your gut instinct first, then everyone else’s opinions second. No matter what, you are responsible, and you don’t want any regrets. If you had to give advice to a newbie (relative or close friend), use the same caution you would give to them. Re: amendments, we can win the battle but lose the war. Hiring managers always have the last word!
As long as you don’t have your agency posted to your profile, are in a classified position, and don’t say something like “well I work for {agency} and you’re {politicallyChargedStatement}”, you’re fine. Because the government is your employer, your first amendment rights are fully protected when in a personal capacity unlike in the private sector. However, depending on your agency/local laws, there may be restrictions on advocating for specific partisan candidates or asking for donations etc.
I’ll add that if someone can associate your posts to you and where you work, they definitely might complain. They might *try* to impose some sort of discipline, but as long as you aren’t breaching any ethics laws and the posts you make on the site you make them don’t give a potential association to the agency, you could eventually take them to court if it got that far (IANAL)
Yes of course you can.
I tend to post things in general. I don’t get into political debates or comments. Some divisions have certain social media policies, so read what your social media policy guidelines are.
I believe a colleague of mine has been fired due to political remarks of stuff happening in Israel/Palestine a little while back. DHS did not take it lightly, I assume other agencies are the same.