A human being performs many roles in his or her life and many of these roles overlap. What is important to remember is that one role does not override or deny another.

So you are the hardworking breadwinner and loving parent. By earning a living you have provided basic care for your children.

Likewise, there is you, the responsible worker who produces and consumes, and there is you, the citizen, who safeguards your collective material and non-material wellbeing in solidarity with fellow citizens.

Do you suspend your duty as a citizen who might wish to uphold your democratic rights just because your employer orders you to?

The answer should be a shiningly clear ‘no’.

Your employer's contract over your life is limited to that which you had willingly signed up for, namely, to provide him a specific service at the workplace during your stipulated workday in exchange for wages.

Beyond that, your employer has absolutely no control over you and your role as citizen just as he has no say in your role as a mother or a father to your child.

It is not just that your employer has no legal right on this matter. Your employer is irrelevant on this matter, insofar as you do not intend to hurt him, damage his property or harm his work process.

And that is all there is to it.

So if you get a circular from your boss that sounds like this, "as a responsible corporate and [insert company name] citizen, our main focus should be on this journey to transform our company" and that the company "does not condone our staff involvement in any illegal activity", you are free to crumple it and leave it right where it belongs - in the standard-issue wastepaper basket.