Politics, Blasted Politics

Yes, it’s that time again. The airwaves will be full of campaign ads that don’t necessarily inform us of where the candidate stands on various hot-button topics but instead slams their opponent.

Early in my HR career I never would have contemplated the need for a policy related to political discussions at work. Unfortunately, the last several elections have witnessed a widening schism between political ideologies, which, combined with a decrease in workplace civility and intolerance for different ideologies, has caused employers to rethink this need.

It seems that if people want to turn a conversation into a political debate badly enough, they will. And they are often passionate in their viewpoint. I read an article that pointed to several online discussions that started out seemingly normal but degraded into a battery of insults and name-calling about the other person’s political beliefs. You won’t believe the topics: workplace performance reviews, Taylor Swift, and whether hens lay eggs without the presence of a rooster! I don’t have the details, but I am very curious!

This leads to the question—as an employer, should you impose a policy that completely prohibits political discussions? You can try—but good luck enforcing it. As an alternative, you might set some guardrails around the content and tone of those conversations. The intent should not be to convince the other party that their viewpoint is wrong but should focus on an open, respectful dialogue, aimed at sharing information and viewpoints. Name-calling targeting candidates or each other should not be tolerated. Respecting the boundaries of coworkers who do not wish to engage in political discussions is essential. Your policy should also be clear about the consequences of failing to honor these tenants.

If you’ve ever dealt with a workplace political bully, you are well aware of how uncomfortable it can be. Making your expectations clear regarding political discourse should help keep the discussion on the right path. Who knows, maybe both sides of the equation will learn something!