Talking Politics in the Workplace
by Race in the Workplace special correspondent Erica Mauter
Everybody will be talking about Super Duper Tuesday.
In response to surveys indicating increased political discussion in the workplace, Anita Bruzzese sayeth:
These growing numbers have me wondering how much influence our workplace culture, co-workers and bosses influence our votes. If we’re spending 10 to 12 hours a day with other employees, might they have a bigger impact on our decisions? Will we vote the way the boss does just to get in good with a manager? Can who we vote for adversely impact a career?
The obvious first response to encountering political discussion in the workplace is to wonder how this new-found knowledge impacts your opinion of your co-workers. When people you know outside of the workplace express political opinions, you have more latitude in your response. Your co-workers you are stuck with.
I’d certainly puzzle over how to manage my response (or lack thereof) to someone with different political beliefs, but it wouldn’t even occur to me that I might act, much less vote differently to improve my boss’s perception of me. If my stellar performance isn’t already doing it, we’re now talking faking a whole outlook on life.
But if your work environment is that hostile to your political beliefs you have two options.
- Learn to keep your mouth shut. Accept that fact that other people won’t and you might not like what they have to say, then figure out how to maintain a civil working relationship with them. Just because some of your co-workers disagree doesn’t mean that the company’s values are out of line with yours or that you all of a sudden hate your job.
- Quit. I know of a guy who left a job at a startup after two weeks because the newer new guy referred to people as “coloreds”. (I know!!!) Some things you just can’t work around. That was maybe more an example of ignorance and/or bigotry, but suppose he’d said “abolish Roe vs Wade” or “build a wall at the border” instead.
Back to Anita’s statement, there is some merit to the question of whether these people we spend so many hours of a day with can influence our political choices. If anything, being forced to deal with their differing political positions in a workplace setting (i.e., in a rational and diplomatic manner) changes the way you have these discussions and maybe everybody will learn something in the process.
Or maybe your entire department caucused for Barack Obama. Team building, anyone?
This year’s election is historic. People pay more attention to politics as they age. The topic will inevitably come up. Your politics are as much a part of you as your family and your hobbies. It’s unrealistic to expect to avoid politics all together in the workplace.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
Anita Bruzzese wrote:
I really appreciate you adding to this discussion. I do think that you should quit if you work in a hostile environment, but I think that is even more difficult with this tough economy and loss of job opportunities. That will make the growing discussion of politics at work even more interesting in the months to come and how what we’re exposed to at work will influence our voting decisions.
Anita Bruzzese
http://www.45things.com
Posted 07 Feb 2008 at 10:46 am ¶
Ondrea Taylor wrote:
I was just discussing this topic with one of my colleagues. The CEO of the company that I work for is aggressively supporting the nomination of a candidate for the presidency and staff has been “asked” to do everything from volunteer time for phone-a-thons to allowing campaign aids to stay in their homes. I find it highly inappropriate, especially when if the required number of volunteers is not found within the office pool, mass emails are sent by him reminding everyone what a great “favor” this would be to him. One such mass email was even sent out in regards to “Super Tuesday” reminding everyone what a great candidate he supported and how we should be sure to do our duty as Americans and vote (’wink’). I work for a PR firm where the average age of an employee ranges from 23-33, myself included. Young minds tend to be very impressionable and apt to seek approval from people in postions of authority. It doesn’t hurt that a vote for candidate A could be the best form of “brown nosing” and a little help on the campaign could help with that promotion. American politics, forever tainted with personal interest… God Bless America.
Posted 11 Feb 2008 at 9:43 am ¶
Angel H. wrote:
(Sorry! Presssed “Post” too soon!)
Every morning on my way to work, I pass by an HVAC place with a large LED sign. In addition to the time, date, tempurature, and the company’s name, they sometimes display little holiday greetings.
For the past two weeks, however, they posted a message comparinging Bush’s stimulus plan to welfare. (I don’t remember the exact message; I can never catch the whole thing anyway.) That was a major turnoff. The last thing I want from my customer service is politics. I guess I’m not the only one who feels that way because the message wasn’t there today.
Posted 11 Feb 2008 at 1:48 pm ¶
Erica Mauter wrote:
While it’s nice to see that folks are interested and personally invested in what’s going on in politics… it’s a personal investment. It has no place at work and certainly no place in customer relations. Unless you work in politics, I guess.
Donate where you want, vote for who you want, but where work is concerned it’s almost like a separation of church and state. Using official company communications to pimp your cause (unless it’s charitable) is an abuse. Maybe not a legal one, though I’m sure someone somewhere could argue otherwise.
Posted 13 Feb 2008 at 2:59 pm ¶