Laws meant to stop people from bullying journalists actually end up making factory floors safer for workers.
SSRN · March 17, 2026 · 6317798
The Takeaway
Anti-SLAPP statutes are meant to prevent powerful entities from suing critics into silence. This study reveals that when these laws are passed, workers feel more empowered to speak out and post online reviews, which pressures companies to fix safety violations and results in fewer physical workplace injuries.
From the abstract
This study investigates the influence of statutes to tackle strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) on workplace safety violations in the United States. Drawing on organizational climate theory, we find that anti-SLAPP statutes foster a positive environment for free speech in the workplace and contribute to improved workplace safety practices. Following the passage of anti-SLAPP statutes, both the number of violations and the size of related penalties are reduced. We show that a