As November 6 approaches, the presidential candidates and their supporters continue to campaign heavily. Every social media outlet, from Twitter to The New York Times, is saturated with information about the candidates and their views on every contested issue of this election season. Whether one is interested in Mitt Romney's views on taxes and Clint Eastwood or interested in President Obama's views on the Middle East and Jay-Z and Beyonce, almost everyone will find an issue that will strike his or her interest . It seems inevitable that political discussions will find their way in to the workplace.
Political discussions can be a healthy form of everyday conversation in the workplace, stimulating intellectual dialogue and fostering positive work relationships. However, because many of the issues at the forefront of these elections can be deeply personal since they deal with race, class, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, religion, inequality and more, friendly conversations can easily escalate into heated debates. It is important to take steps to attempt to minimize politically based conflicts in the workplace because they can interfere with productivity and lead to formal complaints or even to a potential lawsuit.
Policies
Employers should clearly articulate policies on political discussions and the distribution and display of political information and paraphernalia at work, and enforce these policies consistently.
Encourage Respectful Political Dialogue
You cannot and would not want to prohibit political discussions, even when there is some disagreement among employees. However, you should make clear that working is the priority, and that political discussion that disrupts the work environment is inappropriate. You...
