06 May The Office: Is Talking Politics (or Religion) Ever a Good Idea at Work?
Dear DW,
I’ve noticed some of my colleagues talking about the upcoming elections. I know that in the past, talking politics and religion was frowned upon. Has anything changed?
Signed, Politically Hesitant
Dear Hesitant,
You have good reason to feel uneasy about joining the conversation.
Talking about politics can be OK if it ties into your job and impacts your day-to-day work, says Kristen Fowler, vice president of HR and practice lead at global executive search firm Clarke Caniff. “For example, if you work in a highly regulated industry such as oil and gas, or the clean energy space, where there is a lot of legislation that affects your work, it is appropriate to discuss how that could impact the business,” she says. However, stick to the facts and keep your personal views out of it. “If people begin getting heated about a topic, politely remind them you would like to keep the discussion free from personal opinions,” she adds.
Detaching politics from workplace discussions is particularly important now, given the growing polarization in the United States, says Deirdre McCarthy Gallagher, lead facilitator and trainer at JAMS Pathways, a global workplace training and mediation company. “Our political identities are intertwined with how we see ourselves and others, which makes it a herculean task to find common ground when we are on opposite sides of the political spectrum,” she says.
Though religion can be more of a gray area, McCarthy Gallagher says, faith also has a “role in shaping how people see themselves in the world and in relation to others.” The key to workplace discussions about religion is respecting people where they are, she points out. For managers navigating these issues, clear communication around expectations is paramount. “Emphasize the commitment to a culture of inclusion and respect and, if necessary, convene a structured conversation to explore together what this looks like in practice,” McCarthy Gallagher advises. DW
