Co-workers

Politics and the workplace

September 12th, 2008
By CareerBuilder blogger in Co-workers
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After so many months of campaigning in the U.S. presidential elections, both parties have now held their conventions and selected their candidates. The election is now less than two months away.

Politics has always been a subject that people feel very passionately about. As the election date draws nearer, that passion may spill over into the workplace. That can create issues if co-workers on different sides of an issue get into a conflict.

Here are some ideas to keep things on an even keel at work:

Set boundaries.

If heated discussions and debates are getting in the way of productivity, it may be time for your employer to define what’s acceptable for work.

Most companies have provisions in their handbooks that prohibit active campaigning for a candidate on company grounds. In terms of political talk, your management team may want to restrict those discussions to times when you’re not working, like lunches and breaks, so that you can focus on your first priority: getting the job done.

Make the competition fun.

Many companies launch fund-raising efforts in the fall to fund their philanthropic contributions to local, national and international charities and non-profit agencies.

You can take a fun, lighthearted approach to the election by creating a competition between the candidates. Workers can contribute by making light-hearted speeches about why their candidate should win. Employees can vote with their dollars, and all the money goes to a good cause.

Respect others.

In any group, you have a diverse cross-section of people with different backgrounds and beliefs. If you don’t see eye to eye on politics with a co-worker, focus on what you have in common.

If you find that you’re clashing with a co-worker on a political issue, try to stay cool. Maintain a physical and emotional distance. Walk away from the situation if it becomes too heated.

Bottom line: Regardless of your political affiliations and beliefs you do have your employer in common. Acknowledge this and keep things in perspective. Remember, you’ll still be working together after the election!

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