Can an employer mandate what you put in your office?

My employer posted an inter-office email stating that only approved materials can be posted within our personal office space. The reason they gave is in case a client were to come by our office they did not want "questionable" material out. Can they do this even though clients are not allowed in the employee sections?

Well if clients aren't allowed in the employee section, then no, that's dumb. But if you have stuff like the play boy calendar and such on your walls, then yes, they have a right to ask you to take it down, because it may offend other employees (never quite understood how a picture could offend, but whatever) . But they should give you different reasoning, like for example:
"We require all your desk items to be passed by us before being put on display BECAUSE, other employees are finding your items distracting while they work"
or
"Please don't leave things on your desk that are of pornographic nature, would be offensive to someone else's religion, or could be considered racist materials,"

But in the end, really, they don't have to give you any reason at all, because this is their office, not yours. If they say it has to go, it has to go. They have the final say in everything. That's why everyone would just love to be their own boss.

of course they can mandate that!
DUH

I would think so. It makes sense if you have clients coming in and out. I once had a boss that wouldn't even let us hang a calender on the wall. It had to be on our desk.

yes an employer can mandate that. he or she makes company policy

Yes, I believe they can. I personally wish we could, but the company is within every right to mandate behavior, dress code, online activity, and personal activity so long as you are employed there and within their building. Unfortunately, businesses are not democracies, you have no vote. You may possibly be able to submit what you want to display and get approval, but if they don't like it, you got to comply.

~jaz~

Hey Bro... If you make work about work and less about you and what you like.... you will go far.
The problem is one guy's Piccaso is another guy's pornography. The only way to keep from drawing prejudicial lines is to not allow it at all.
You might be a good employee with discretion.... The guy next to you may not. You have a calendar with the Rocky Mountains pictured. He has a calendar with Mary's mountains pictured.... it saves everybody headaches and hard feelings