Man might very well be, by nature, a political animal, as Aristotle suggested so long ago, but it's probably a good idea to keep your politics to yourself—at least for the next couple of weeks.
My mom always advised against talk of politics and religion at the dinner table (only because where I grew up no one knew what polite company was), but it's a lesson worth revisiting in an increasingly partisan electorate. Because the pundits and the politicians aren't the only ones who lose their tempers over matters of public policy.
In fact, the Baltimore Sun reported this week that such water cooler disputes could actually stir up issues with the HR department, especially if it involves superiors talking to their direct reports about specific issues or candidates. This pot got stirred up in the past few weeks with reports (some debunked) of some employers issuing declarations about how their employees should vote.
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"The bottom line is these types of discussions may lead to allegations of bullying and create a hostile work environment," labor attorney Thomas A. Cox Jr. told the Baltimore daily paper. "The expression of political views creates an environment for some employees that they might consider to be uncomfortable or in some cases hostile. … Employers have to avoid the creation of a hostile work environment."
And most companies—and those certainly in the private sector—don't necessarily have formal policies in place regulating such workplace banter, that doesn't mean your free speech doesn't come with some responsibilities attached.
So when it comes to morning-after discussions of who won last night's debate or ballot questions when you see a co-worker strolling into the office next month with their "I voted" sticker on their lapel, it might be a good idea to bring up the latest episode of "The Walking Dead" instead.
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