Comments on: Discussing Politics at Work http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:28:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1238 Ms. Theologian Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:23:54 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1238 I tend not to make any political statements outside the home. :) But my dad is a political scientist and I might just be full. And, yeah, it's really hard to gauge people politically. One of my best friends at a former job blanched at a Planned Parenthood postcard that I gave her and I realized that I had misjudged where she was on the reproductive rights spectrum. I tend not to make any political statements outside the home. :) But my dad is a political scientist and I might just be full.

And, yeah, it’s really hard to gauge people politically. One of my best friends at a former job blanched at a Planned Parenthood postcard that I gave her and I realized that I had misjudged where she was on the reproductive rights spectrum.

]]> By: Comrade Kevin http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1237 Comrade Kevin Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:12:00 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1237 I try to make a point to avoid political statements at work unless I am absolutely certain I am in like-minded company. It is often difficult to gauge a person's political sentiment and it often takes a while before I know with any degree of accuracy. I try to make a point to avoid political statements at work unless I am absolutely certain I am in like-minded company. It is often difficult to gauge a person’s political sentiment and it often takes a while before I know with any degree of accuracy.

]]> By: Ms. Theologian http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1232 Ms. Theologian Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:50:37 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1232 That's a good point. I think that often these incidents begin with people making assumptions like, "We're all Christians here..." I can remember when I taught at a Catholic school that was often the assumption, and compounded by the assumption that all Christians vote only for "pro-life" candidates. That’s a good point. I think that often these incidents begin with people making assumptions like, “We’re all Christians here…” I can remember when I taught at a Catholic school that was often the assumption, and compounded by the assumption that all Christians vote only for “pro-life” candidates.

]]> By: h sofia http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1231 h sofia Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:58:36 +0000 http://survivingtheworkday.com/2008/01/07/discussing-politics-at-work/#comment-1231 Employees need to also understand that when the manager or company cracks down, it's not necessarily because they are trying to curtail your freedoms - it could be that they need to protect you and your coworkers from a hostile working environment. I've worked in places where people started mouthing off about all kinds of political issues and it became very uncomfortable. The last place I worked at, I got to hear such lovelies as, "Well, too bad for the Native Americans that they were almost wiped out; they should have fought harder," and "Racial profiling by mall security is okay because everyone knows that black people shoplift more often," it can get really tense. Now, I'm all for spirited and lively conversation - even debate - and that was actually able to happen where I worked because it was a very diverse workplace. People who said F-ed up things were basically viewed by most as "that person who says f-ed up things." Had it been a place with only a few people of color, those incidents could have been a disaster. When it comes to conversation about racial, religious, and economic issues there needs to be awareness of power dynamics in the workplace. For example, one former coworker posted this terribly offensive spam hoax "article" about Muslims, the devil, and 9/11. And of course, it had a tone of "we are all Christians and THEY are all infidel murderers." It was up for about one hour before management got wind and had it removed. Employees need to also understand that when the manager or company cracks down, it’s not necessarily because they are trying to curtail your freedoms - it could be that they need to protect you and your coworkers from a hostile working environment. I’ve worked in places where people started mouthing off about all kinds of political issues and it became very uncomfortable.

The last place I worked at, I got to hear such lovelies as, “Well, too bad for the Native Americans that they were almost wiped out; they should have fought harder,” and “Racial profiling by mall security is okay because everyone knows that black people shoplift more often,” it can get really tense. Now, I’m all for spirited and lively conversation - even debate - and that was actually able to happen where I worked because it was a very diverse workplace. People who said F-ed up things were basically viewed by most as “that person who says f-ed up things.”

Had it been a place with only a few people of color, those incidents could have been a disaster. When it comes to conversation about racial, religious, and economic issues there needs to be awareness of power dynamics in the workplace. For example, one former coworker posted this terribly offensive spam hoax “article” about Muslims, the devil, and 9/11. And of course, it had a tone of “we are all Christians and THEY are all infidel murderers.” It was up for about one hour before management got wind and had it removed.

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