Welcome to Brazen Careerist!
Lance Haun is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Lance Haun and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Lance Haun is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Lance Haun and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb Politics.
With the US elections just a week away, I’ve started to think more and more about how politics and the workplace intersect.
I’ve always been interested in the nuts and bolts of how companies operate. This is why, at its core, I chose HR over other business paths. People are the drivers of business they say so HR touches on people that drive the business from start to finish. The problem with having people drive your business is that they can often be incredibly unpredictable and can respond to the same stimulus in completely different ways. I am no psychologist but when it comes to how politics and the workplace interact with each other, I couldn’t think of a better case study. Consider these situations:
All of these have happened to me in my professional life. This spans industries and job function (not all of these happened when I was in HR).
In the past, these things used to make me freeze up. I would ask myself a million questions: How are people going to react? Will the conversation continue past this instance? Will people start questioning my political beliefs if I don’t speak up? I would be cool in other workplace conflicts but when it came to politics, I would clam up. I honestly don’t know what my problem was.
I had to rethink the equation to really start to understand and embrace the role politics plays in the workplace. How’s that?
Politics directly impacts all aspects of the work environment. Consider the 40 hour work week or the tax incentives that mean the difference between being in business or shutting the doors? How about labor relations and pay equity? These are two major issues that will be impacted by the result of the elections in one week. The government giveth and the government taketh away. As long as the government impacts the workplace, unions, employees, executives and corporations all have a responsibility to be involved in the electoral process.
But how do you get involved in politics without employees feeling like you are big brother? There is a fine line to be walked
For Companies and Unions
For Executives and Employees
I am looking forward to the conversations that will be happening this week coming into election day. I hope that you can find a way to enjoy the important discussions taking place as well.

Very reasonable approach--this should be required reading for politics fans in traditional workplaces.
And it's interesting that you've seen those experience in person. I just assumed you were being hypothetical because there is such a variety.

I agree with everything you have stated in your blog. At work we have talked about politics, and we have been able to keep it civilized by allowing everyone to speak and not yelling. Our leadership has not told us who they are voting for b/c it shouldn't matter.
The one thing I would like to add is that I feel actors, athletes, singers, etc. abuse their power when it comes to politics. They use the Media to influence viewers to vote in their favor whenever possible.
I went to a concert this weekend and at the end, the band leader said "Have a great night, a good future, and let's hope for 4 years of Democrats". I'm sorry, but I don't think that's appropriate, no matter what party your in favor of.

@Chuck - Thanks.
@Anon - I generally agree. The celeb endorsements are a bit over done.
The concept of success isn't entirely as "black and white" as we'd like to believe. Often times, when we re-think the way we look at our achievements, we can find success in the grey areas. More...
Ellen Nordahl to All Fans
14 people have recommended this.