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It's a big year for talking politics. But, is it a good idea to engage in these discussions in your office, in your meetings, or in your shared spaces? When does a lively discussion turn into something that breeds negativity, tension, and hard feelings?
My friend, Scott Davidson, and I exchanged Facebook messages about politics this morning, as we do frequently. Although we both love talking about politics, we're both tired of it today. Exhausted, actually. Scott is a conservative Republican who's lamenting his party's nominee, and I'm an Independent (who votes Democratic) who just wishes CNN's "best political team on television" would decide ours. I'm a bit burnt out on it all.
Last night I was in a fraternity house dining room, and a huge verbal battle erupted between two brothers. Fingers were pointing and voices were raised. Meanwhile, CNN was broadcasting election results from Rhode Island on the flat screen television 10-feet away. I couldn't tell if it was in fun or if these two brothers are on the verge of violence.
All the women in my office are Republicans, and all the men are Democrats. I wish I could tell you that we're having highly intellectual discussions about issues around the lunch table, but that would be a lie. The women get testy the minute you bring up anything political. They literally shut down, roll eyes, and assume a defensive physical posture. We're all avoiding the topic of politics like the plague.
Doing a little research this morning, I found this, from Recruiting Trends:
Is talking politics at work still frowned upon? It may be a thing of the past suggests a recent Workplace Insights survey, revealing that while 50% of American workers actually do talk politics in the office, 47% listen and keep their political views to themselves, and only 3% report that they “don’t know”. The survey, developed by Adecco, a Global Fortune 500 company and specialist in workforce solutions, further suggests that among the younger generation, however, the percentage increases to 61% - a dramatic jump from the 45% of Millennials who report discussing politics at work during the 2004 presidential election. Even though half of respondents do talk politics at work, 62% state that they do not know which candidate their colleagues plan on voting for. “Being politically correct at the office means communicating carefully and inclusively when politics is on the agenda,” says Bernadette Kenny, Chief Career Officer of Adecco USA. “Although the presidential primaries are a hot topic right now, it’s important to leave the more heated debates outside of the workplace in order to keep things professional. We need to be aware that our opinions on key political issues and the candidates can affect how we’re viewed at the office by our managers, peers and direct reports, and that impact can last long after the last votes have been tallied,” adds Kenny.
It's something to think about. While many of us really enjoy a spirited discussion about political issues, some people hate it. Should we encourage political discussion or actively discourage it? I'm not sure. There's a part of me that says political discussion is an important part of being members of a democracy, even when there is disagreement. Part of me thinks that if it results in hurt feelings and tension, then it might be best kept out of the workplace, out of your organization's events and meetings.
Perhaps the answer is that political discussion belongs in voluntary environments. If people want to engage in these discussions, let them do it in coffee shops or other places where they can choose to be there, or choose to leave. But, don't do it in the dining room when some people are just trying to eat or relax from a busy day. Don't make your apartment a war zone if your roommate doesn't enjoy parsing the differences on health care policy as much as you do.
Perhaps it's not a good thing in an environment like work or an organizational meeting or a fraternity house where people can't escape. In a year when everyone seems to be talking politics, maybe the smart thing is to show a bit of restraint.
