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Does it matter if a person works for a government instead of a private
employer?

Yes, it makes a big difference. Generally, labor contracts and federal and state
laws regulate the relationship between a private sector employee and employer, such as a
retail business or a manufacturer. The public sector employer, however, works for
government and is subject not only to the labor contracts and laws but also to the
restrictions imposed by federal and state constitutions. For example, the First Amendment
restriction on government interference with free speech prohibits a governmental
employer from disciplining a worker who speaks out on issues of public concern. The
First Amendment, however, generally does not apply to a private sector employer and thus
does not prohibit a private sector employer from discharging such an employee. In
addition, most governmental employment is also regulated by civil service rules.