HR would send messages from the highest level of management, that for the benefit of the company, you needed to vote Republican. If you were a member of the other party, you had to keep this to yourself, with fear of repercussions if it came out. Upper management had also hired a previous employee as a consultant (let’s call her Penny) who would undermine lower management, and if you didn’t do what this person wanted done (even though wrong and against what was best for the company and what your boss wanted), you chanced major repercussions. Due to all the above, enabled a very toxic (& illegal?) work environment!