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It was a committee meeting, and a CEO was using the coldest-Wisconsin-winter-ever as proof that global warming didn’t exist.
I had to leave the room so I wouldn’t explode with the news that global warming creates weather extremes, not just a general warming.
Such a small thing years ago, but I think about it constantly because it’s one of
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Comments
10.21.08
At the end of the day, it's a freedom of speech issue. We should have the right to discuss politics in the workplace, especially because politics have a huge impact on businesses.
I work part-time for a mortgage lender and part of my job is to create transcripts of articles and sections of books that my boss likes. I was forced to transcribe a diatribe from a salesman who said that liberals were unqualified to run businesses, women should not expect the same treatment as men, and native Americans should not be entitled to casino profits.
I did it, because it was my job. But I would have loved the chance to write a dissenting opinion.
Walmart actively discourages its employees from voting Democratic. If employers are entitled to their political opinion, then so too should employees.
I hope Gen Y as a general rule says to hell with the idea of not discussing politics at work- it's something that needs to be done.
10.21.08
Rebecca - This is a great post and it speaks to what is on a lot of people's minds at this very moment.
I think a lot of people are afraid to talk about politics because they fear it will turn in to a fight. Speaking about sex or money is easier because it’s more general and let's face it, people usually like both. But when it comes to politics, there are two major platforms, Republican and Democrat, and you are going to have people on opposite sides and a few in between.
Discussing politics usually ends up turning in to a conversation on religion, values, beliefs, etc. and people get defensive because they think the other person with opposing views is trying to change their mind or challenge their beliefs.
The first time we discussed politics at work it was during lunch and it did turn in to a little argument. We even had some people leave the table. But it didn’t end there. The next day at lunch somebody brought up the topic again and we each opened up as to why we feel the way we do, the reasoning behind each of our votes, and everyone listened without talking back. There was a little Q&A that went on just to help clarify a few things.
You are 100% right when you say we are a country of democracy and should be able to speak our minds, but the person on the receiving end must be able accept others opinions, realize that everyone is different, and have an open-mind. At work, we have now accepted that everyone has a difference of opinion, we respect each other’s views, and have agreed to disagree!
10.21.08
@ Tim - I agree that business and politics are intricately related. So many people believe that isn't the case, it's frustrating. We cannot ban what's most important and relevant because we're afraid we might hurt each other's feelings. Thanks for the comment!
@ Dina - Thank you for sharing your experience! I do believe that a big part of successfully navigating politics at work is the basic assumption that others WILL disagree with you. That is, in fact the, beauty of having a dialogue, where we can all learn from each other. Respect is the key though, certainly. :)
10.21.08
I love discussing politics, but I'm always worried about being accused of bias. I guess I don't want to brand myself based on my political views now, and have it come back to bite me in any way later, or be accused of any kind of bias later, especially because I'm trying to pursue a career in media, where political bias always tends to be a touchy topic. Talking about sex, money, or salaries, are, I think, completely different and therefore easier to talk about in work settings -- political views, though, I'm still hesitant to discuss.
10.21.08
@ Nisha C - Thanks for sharing your viewpoint! You'll have bias no matter what, but if you're in media, it's important to know when to share it and when not to. This doesn't negate you not being able to share your viewpoint since we know we all don't agree as long as you can fairly see the other side of the issue as well.
10.21.08
Rebecca,
Since you were so kind to post on both the BC and the actual blog, I figured I could do the same. ;-)
I would be interested in your opinion on this scenario Rebecca. My uber conservative girlfriend interned this summer in a -very-liberal office. Her boss actually had a huge magnet to the effect of having no republican friends.
Because she was an intern and much younger than the people she worked with in corporate she chose to stay out of the conversation when they discussed politics.
Is this a scenario where perhaps you just hold your tongue ad the heavily outnumbered new addition?
10.21.08
I'd argue that this is 100% situation dependent. If these discussions hurt relationships and create animosity at work, then don't get involved. If you feel overwhelmingly compelled to speak up, then at the very minimum do it with tact, discernment and respect.
If you can carry on political discussions in a healthy, constructive manner then I don't see anything wrong with it. A big part of it is simply knowing your audience and knowing when it's appropriate. This is certainly not a black and white issue and it requires humility, prudence and sound judgment to make the right decisions.
Lastly, politics is not everything in life. If these conversations do more harm than good (and distract from your production and contribution as an employee), then don't go down that road. You are no less "authentic" if you refrain from jumping into political discourse in the workplace. If anything this shows a willingness to work with others as well as a humble wisdom in understanding where and when it's best to voice your opinion.
10.21.08
Every place I've worked that had open and rampant political discussion also had open and rampant bias.
Not every topic is appropriate for every setting.
10.21.08
@ Ryan Stephens - Great, because I was thinking more about your situation, and I also think it's important to remember that some issues may be more important than work and more important than keeping your mouth shut. It just depends on your values and what your priorities are... thanks for the comment!
@ Ryan Karpeles - Love your comment. I think it's extremely important to realize that nothing is ever the right thing to do. We all have our own intuition, and you're right, we should use it. Thanks for the reminder!
@ KateNonymous - I appreciate you sharing your experience. Hopefully, what's rampant about political discussions Generation Y will be able to change into respectful dialogue. Time will tell... :)
10.21.08
Rebecca, I'm all in favor of dialogue. And I think that we need to understand each other better than we do.
However, I also think it's important to recognize why we are at work. And except for an extremely small percentage of us, it is not to talk politics.
My last job was great in a lot of ways. But in the department across from mine (seriously, about 3 feet away), there were two guys who would talk politics. Often. Loudly. It was distracting.
But it was also awkward, because it was difficult to come up with a way to say, "Hey, could you at least close your office door?" that didn't sound like I didn't like what they were saying. And whether I agreed or disagreed with them with them wasn't the point--it was that their conversations were distracting me from my work. (And people who disagreed with them, but didn't talk politics in the office, felt that the opinions of others were being forced upon them.) So I finally went to my supervisor and asked if there was a way to handle the situation.
Here's the thing: I don't remember if she had a solution. I just remember how distracting those guys were, and how it kept not just them, but other people, from their work.
10.21.08
I tend to agree with Kate and Ryan, but I definitely hear Rebecca about Gen. Y being a quiet generation.
There is a way to speak up and express an opinion without being combative and it's entirely appropriate to use that sort of tone in the office when discussing politics.
Working in D.C. at politically-inclined offices, I find that discussions are usually most interesting and not damaging to the office environment, when people don't assume that because someone might not share their political views, he or she is automatically a bad/evil person.
For the most part, I think all reasonable people want the same thing, the disagreement occurs because of process, not intention.
10.21.08
Jacklyn, I think that's true in general. I have friends who have political opinions that mystify me--but they're good people whose friendship I value.
10.21.08
Kate, I think it's generally a good world view and a great basis for friendship as you point out.
I find I have few friends and coworkers that who share my political beliefs exactly, but it keeps me on my toes and makes the days more interesting!
10.21.08
@KateNonymous - Great points. I wonder though if that situation could be with any topic. I would be equally annoyed if someone was arguing about sports, for instance. I think it's less about the idea that politics is a bad topic to discuss, and more about knowing when to do it. Obviously, we want and need to get our job done, but a little water cooler talk never hurt anyone... ;)
@ Jaclyn - Thanks for sharing your story. I agree that the key is to assume right up front that you will disagree and that that is completely okay. Like both you and Kate, my best friend has the opposite political leanings than I do, but we still get along.
10.21.08
@Rebecca, I think the difference is that while people can be very passionate about sports, even devoted fans rarely feel that the opposing team's fans are truly bad people. And yet many do feel that way about people who support the opposing political party. Additionally, if someone were talking loudly and at length about sports, I wouldn't have any qualms about asking them to keep it down a bit, because it's very unlikely that they would feel that I was imposing on their freedom of speech--in fact, it's unlikely that they'd make assumptions about my own interest in sports. But that assumption is made about politics.
So I think that there are subjects that are trickier than others in the workplace, because they are by nature different, and inspire different feelings and reactions. Politics is one of them (the others, traditionally, have been religion and sex--and I didn't get hired to discuss my personal views on those topics, either!).
10.21.08
This post stayed in my head all day and I caught myself really listening to the conversations I normally breeze past in the office. From that experience, I have two major observations:
1. My office talks about politics constantly. I was a little surprised at how much they said about politics during the course of the day. At least once an hour, I heard something of a political nature.
2. No one shared an opinion. I thought I would have more of an idea of everyone's political leanings by the end of the day but I got nothing. The extent of discussion was a retelling of what they saw on the news or online the night before.
I'm not sure if overall this is a good or a bad thing but it seems like a decent first step to actual conversation.
10.21.08
Rebecca,
I enjoyed your article. The only point of disagreement I have with you is in regards to your stance on global warming....which is now actually global cooling.
Your boss was a fool for using an example of one cold winter to disprove man-made global warming when there is so much scientific evidence he could use.
I realize this was not the point of your article but I figured speaking up about my global cooling(political) views was in the spirit of your article.
Bundle up - it's gonna get a lot colder in the years to come!
10.21.08
@ Katenonymous: So what if others talk politics? They want to and that's cool. You went to "your supervisor?" Why? Your perceived lack of empowerment is more troubling. Tell them to shut-up if it bothers you. What gives with needing an authority figure to handle this?
10.22.08
@Robnonymous, because I was hoping that, based on her greater experience, she could make a suggestion about how to handle it without treading on their right to express their opinions. It wasn't their opinions that bothered me, it was the distraction.
What gives with needing to be so hostile about a description of trying to avoid hostility?
You may perceive a lack of empowerment, but that's not how anyone who knows me would describe me. That's pretty funny, actually!
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