We are entering the final stage of one of the most divisive political campaign seasons in memory. Political discussions are likely to enter the workplace. How can companies manage political discussions in a way that protects workers and maintains a positive workplace environment?
Should companies outright ban political discussions at the workplace? After all, the right to free speech applies only to government workplaces, but not the private sector. According to Doug Kauffman, partner of Balch & Bingham LLP, “If you say, ‘You can’t discuss politics in the workplace,’ you’re going to find that hard to enforce and it’s going to be difficult to single out politics from other personal things. It could also be damaging from a public relations standpoint if the company is seen as trying to stifle people from expressing their personal views.”(1)
Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half, recommends providing employees with the following tips to prevent political discussions from becoming too heated(1):
- Tread lightly: If you choose to participate in a political conversation, keep it light and constructive. If the discussion becomes confrontational, move on to another subject.
- Decline politely: If you are not comfortable sharing your political views, simply bow out of the conversation and let others know you prefer not to chime in.
- Speak up: If a colleague says or does something that makes you uncomfortable, pull them aside and explain what’s bothering you. For more serious matters, consult your manager or HR.
It’s hard to say what affect working remotely will have on workplace political discussion. Will it reduce the intensity or will “hiding behind the keyboard” make it more intense?
Interestingly, younger workers are more comfortable discussing politics in the workplace than older workers. According to a survey by Robert Half, “32% of employees ages 25 to 40 believe workplace conversations about politics are acceptable, compared to 13% of those ages 41 to 54 and 9% of those 55 and older.”(1)
(1) https://hrexecutive.com/how-should-hr-handle-political-talk-in-the-new-workplace/