Why You Should Not Discuss Politics at Work... Or on Facebook.
By Ken M. Middleton
Article Word Count:
873
BUSINESS, POLITICS, AND FACEBOOK
I write this article only because I have been disturbed lately with behavior that I think has no place and bearing in our business world. While there are some who may disagree with me, there are many who hold true and respect the age-old adage that politics and religion should not be discussed at work. While religion has appeared to retain this level of taboo, it appears that recently politics has lost it. There has been a significant increase in those who have disregarded the emotional connection and passion that individuals have for politics and begun to voice their personal opinions openly at work. What is even more disturbing is how unware some are of how Facebook should also be considered off limits as well for negative comments against candidates, as you don't know who you may offend.
While I think the passion is admirable and should be celebrated (in private among friends), there is no place for it at your professional work establishment or on Facebook for several reasons.
Politics is very much like religion.
When we are born, our choice of religion is most often chosen by that which I parents practiced. While there are some who decide to branch out and adopt a different religion, or none at all, as they grow older, the majority of individuals stay associated with their original one mainly because of their parents and the people they were around as they grew up. We are often passionate about our religion because it is part of how we associate our respect for our parents and who we are as a family. Politics is very much like this. Whether you are democrat or a republican, there is a huge chance that your parents would fall into this same category. There are some who have switched parties from their parents (most often because they don't want to be like them), but this often creates an even equal passion (if not greater) for their political belief. When we decide to engage in work conversations about this, we are often asking for a heated debate about someone's belief that is at the core of their being. It is asking for division and argument to ensue if you are on opposite ends of the spectrum. In an environment in which teamwork and togetherness are often paramount for the group's success, this only takes away from this goal.
It makes people extremely uncomfortable and could be legally damaging to your company.
While there are some individuals who can hold their beliefs silently and feel comfortable with keeping them to themselves (similar to religion), there are others who feel compelled to "convert" others to their ways by explaining why their side is right. In a work environment, there is absolutely no place for this. Everyone has the right to his/her opinion and shouldn't have to come to work to be berated by someone who desires to "preach the gospel" of his/her views. Also, if you work for a company that is known to be mostly republican or democrat, you could be unknowingly alienating those workers who don't share your views. You can see this when some are gathered together trashing one political candidate in full earshot of everyone around them. Would this be accepted if someone was talking about a religious view in this manner? It often puts the minority employee in a very unfair position and could put your company at legal risk of suit if the individual felt like this disagreement with internally agreed upon political views hurt his/her chance for success in the company. Also, if you are specifically named in the suit as an individual who helped create this feeling, you could be at risk for losing your job.
It can only do more damage than it can do any good.
As discussed, people are passionate about their politics just like religion. The chances of you changing their political affiliation by "educating" them are slim to none. Often, these discussions turn into heated debates that often end badly. You see this often on Facebook, when others go overboard with their disdain for a particular candidate. Granted, there is nothing wrong if you want to post a "Romney/Ryan" or "Go Forward" posting on your Facebook status. This is very comparable to people who display this on their cars. The problem comes into play when someone completely trashes a candidate with attacks on that person's policies or character. It is asking for a rebuttal from any of your Facebook connections that are passionate about that particular candidate. This can (and has) led to individuals ending long friendships. Also, if you are connected with any of your business relationships on Facebook, it could actually lead to lost accounts and sales.
Overall, passion for politics is appreciate and shared. There are many individuals who lost their lives for the right for us all to vote and choose our political affiliations. However, very similar to those who died for our independence and freedom from religious persecution, let us cherish this right and know how to separate our work/professional world from that of our political/personal world for the benefits of all... and most specifically, ourselves.
I write this article only because I have been disturbed lately with behavior that I think has no place and bearing in our business world. While there are some who may disagree with me, there are many who hold true and respect the age-old adage that politics and religion should not be discussed at work. While religion has appeared to retain this level of taboo, it appears that recently politics has lost it. There has been a significant increase in those who have disregarded the emotional connection and passion that individuals have for politics and begun to voice their personal opinions openly at work. What is even more disturbing is how unware some are of how Facebook should also be considered off limits as well for negative comments against candidates, as you don't know who you may offend.
While I think the passion is admirable and should be celebrated (in private among friends), there is no place for it at your professional work establishment or on Facebook for several reasons.
Politics is very much like religion.
When we are born, our choice of religion is most often chosen by that which I parents practiced. While there are some who decide to branch out and adopt a different religion, or none at all, as they grow older, the majority of individuals stay associated with their original one mainly because of their parents and the people they were around as they grew up. We are often passionate about our religion because it is part of how we associate our respect for our parents and who we are as a family. Politics is very much like this. Whether you are democrat or a republican, there is a huge chance that your parents would fall into this same category. There are some who have switched parties from their parents (most often because they don't want to be like them), but this often creates an even equal passion (if not greater) for their political belief. When we decide to engage in work conversations about this, we are often asking for a heated debate about someone's belief that is at the core of their being. It is asking for division and argument to ensue if you are on opposite ends of the spectrum. In an environment in which teamwork and togetherness are often paramount for the group's success, this only takes away from this goal.
It makes people extremely uncomfortable and could be legally damaging to your company.
While there are some individuals who can hold their beliefs silently and feel comfortable with keeping them to themselves (similar to religion), there are others who feel compelled to "convert" others to their ways by explaining why their side is right. In a work environment, there is absolutely no place for this. Everyone has the right to his/her opinion and shouldn't have to come to work to be berated by someone who desires to "preach the gospel" of his/her views. Also, if you work for a company that is known to be mostly republican or democrat, you could be unknowingly alienating those workers who don't share your views. You can see this when some are gathered together trashing one political candidate in full earshot of everyone around them. Would this be accepted if someone was talking about a religious view in this manner? It often puts the minority employee in a very unfair position and could put your company at legal risk of suit if the individual felt like this disagreement with internally agreed upon political views hurt his/her chance for success in the company. Also, if you are specifically named in the suit as an individual who helped create this feeling, you could be at risk for losing your job.
It can only do more damage than it can do any good.
As discussed, people are passionate about their politics just like religion. The chances of you changing their political affiliation by "educating" them are slim to none. Often, these discussions turn into heated debates that often end badly. You see this often on Facebook, when others go overboard with their disdain for a particular candidate. Granted, there is nothing wrong if you want to post a "Romney/Ryan" or "Go Forward" posting on your Facebook status. This is very comparable to people who display this on their cars. The problem comes into play when someone completely trashes a candidate with attacks on that person's policies or character. It is asking for a rebuttal from any of your Facebook connections that are passionate about that particular candidate. This can (and has) led to individuals ending long friendships. Also, if you are connected with any of your business relationships on Facebook, it could actually lead to lost accounts and sales.
Overall, passion for politics is appreciate and shared. There are many individuals who lost their lives for the right for us all to vote and choose our political affiliations. However, very similar to those who died for our independence and freedom from religious persecution, let us cherish this right and know how to separate our work/professional world from that of our political/personal world for the benefits of all... and most specifically, ourselves.
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