Political talk at work?

[SHRED]

I am a public worker, for a city, in CA.
In general, is political talk in the public employee workplace, against any rule, regulation, or law?
There is nothing in our union bargaining agreement or personnel rules about this.

[Nickster]

1. I'd say no. BUT, I also don't think it's too wise either.

[SHRED]

3. Well....

...I get asked what I am sometimes.

It's difficult to answer considering people's prejudicial interpretations of words like "liberal", "Democratic Party", "Left", etc...
So difficult to establish a premise for discussion when the RW media has polluted people's minds so the true meanings are lost.

I tell them I am the Webster's Dictionary version of a Liberal and not Rush Limbaugh's.

[Nickster]

8. I'd do my darndest to avoid responding to that at all, at least at work.

I'm in the heart of darkness myself. Never been asked about my political affiliations, and I don't plan on bringing it up too soon. But I know that if I got labeled as a Liberal here, my advancement oppty would dry up immediately. I can a lot more good being under the radar then being stuck by their prejudices.

It sucks, but sometimes you have to be subversive.

[SHRED]

12. I understand

I however am as far as I am going here and my job is very secure.
I will speak out, when confronted, until the bosses tell me to shut up and even then I will seek out my legal rights.

[Nickster]

16. I don't disagree with you. Just know when to pick a fight is all. There's

no stopping them from sending you backwards even if you're maxed out on your advancement now. They can also make your current existence quite unpleasant until you decide it's too much.

[melm00se]

10. i would just look them dead in the eye

and say:

"While I am sure that is important to you, in my opinion, this is neither the time nor the place for that discussion"

Or

"Buy me a few beers after work and I'll be more than happy to discuss it, but not here"

[Nickster]

17. excellent suggestions n/t

[Yupster]

22. I love your second choice answer

I think political talk at work is usually a bad idea, and it is an extremely bad idea if you are on the government payroll. I think it a very bad idea for government workers to be seen, especially by the public as partisan.

[acmejack]

11. It depends if you care what your co workers think.

I am a proud liberal & everyone knows what my opinions are. I am a disabled veteran so it makes it a little more difficult for them to say anything about it to me, so to hell with their petty likes and dislikes. I will engage in reasonable discussion with them and we usually do (I take a lot of abuse as the token liberal, not so much as of late, though! Converts flocking to the banner for some reason!), but I feel like I am entitled to my rights as an American citizen & I intend to exercise them to the bitter end. Which unfortunately may be sooner rather than later.

[SHRED]

14. I am in a similar situation

Good for you speaking out.

They are going to have to make me stop.
When they start it...I will finish it.

I am not talking about provoking it.
My long hair does that all by itself.

[melm00se]

2. it is too

easy to be labeled an agitator (or worse). Politics (just like religion) is best done on your own time, not your employer's.

[Beware the Beast Man]

4. I would tread lightly.

Especially if you have opposing viewpoints. I'm fortunate enough to work with some people, while not necessarily liberal/progressive, are no fans of Bush.

[SHRED]

7. I do

I too gravitate to those who somewhat share my views.

I have been able to enlighten and that is gratifying.

It takes careful surgery not to piss of everyone and jeporadize the workplace.

[Lerkfish]

5. I'm not a public employee, but I've been called on the carpet for being

a "bush-basher" and having a liberal agenda. I was told it wasn't healthy for long term career goals, and that I was making certain higher-ups (unnamed) uncomfortable.

I have to watch what I say now, and make sure anyone I discuss politics with is on my side before I say something.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

6. In my school district where I work

harrassment not only means sexual, it can mean political or religious. So if a colleague constantly spouts either politics or evangelizes, I can file a complaint.

[Ufomammut]

9. Because the US propaganda effort is so intertwined with the...

People's daily round of media-induced "reality," which relies on the "divide and rule" tactic to subvert solidarity, it became a key note in that old time, home-spun denial bullshit - along with religious beliefs - that 'people weren't supposed to discuss such things publicly.' Largely because the appeals are on an emotional, non-fact-based level, which encourages dumb-shit people to get into fights over "who's right."

It also serves to prevent people from communicating anything beyond the prescribed platitudes, ensuring lack of solidarity among the people.

[nickinSTL]

13. I discuss politics at work

but then, I have pretty liberal coworkers for the most part (I work in libraries, one at a university and one public).

However, in my 2nd job, I work with the public (circulation) - and though I'll discuss politics with my coworkers, I won't with the public. Even those I agree with, I try to avoid saying anything as I don't think it's appropriate for a worker at a taxpayer supported workplace to promote any particular political agenda.

[B3Nut]

21. I talk politics with my boss all the time

But then again, he's a DUer, so it's all good. :D He makes sure to remind me to read the Top 10 Conservative Idiots on Monday mornings. :D

And if RudeHorner shows up in this thread....hi boss! :hi:

Todd in Beerbratistan

[mondo joe]

15. I work with a bunch of liberals and I still don't discuss politics at work

I'd guess 90% or more of my coworkers are quite liberal. I just don't get into political talks there.

[VaYallaDawg]

18. I work in the private sector - a for-profit business,

where I'm one of the owning partners. Both of my business partners are liberals too(we all seem to flock to each other, don't we) -- however, we long ago reached an unspoken agreement not to talk about politics at work. We have about 25 employees, all of whom are entitled to their own views, which we respect - and very importantly for the sake of our business, there's just no point in driving away customers based on our political views. It's just good business commonsense.

So - my guess would be that if you're working for the gummint in any capacity - including the military - political discussions ought to be done outside the "workplace," wherever that is. My opinion is that your co-workers are not necessarily entitled to know your political views.

[seabeyond]

19. since i see us as a bunch of adults, and figure we can walk life

without a whole lot of laws directing us exactly where we must put our foot, as an employer, i dont give a fuck about law. want to talk politics fine. disruptive in work environment, bummer that it is...... i guess we adults cant be adult in discussion, so no one gets to.

now ...... everywhere i have worked, there hasnt been the need to restrict employee behavior. rah...

[justabob]

20. I had an uncomfortable experience at work yesterday

I don't think this is exactly what you are talking about, but it came up yesterday. I am a waitress at a well to do restaurant on the edge of the wealthy/hyperconservative neighborhood. One lady at my table was talking about the massive immigration protests that were being reported on the TV in the cafe and asked where the protests were going on. Her tablemates couldn't answer so I chimed in.... "all over the country"

"But why?" she asked, "Bush has said he favors blah blah blah..."

"Well, there is this legislation that is working its way through Congress and all these folks who are protesting think it is over the top"

"But BUsh won't sign the bill, because its not what he believes"

Before I could stop myself I said "Yeah, but he'll just issue a signing statement saying he doesn't interpret the law this way and the lies will continue"

To my surprise, they all knew what I was talking about and agreed.

It went back and forth like this for a while on a number of subjects and I finally said I really shouldn't be talking to customers about this because I am very opinionated and strident and this wasn't very appropriate. They said "don't worry about it, we drew you in to the conversation"

Then the nice woman I was mostly speaking to said something like "I am for Bush, but I don't agree with all this stuff" and my head almost exploded. I can only imagine what my body language/facial expression said because she added, "I am tired of Iraq and and.... " and thankfully I got another table and so escaped before I totally lost it and told her to think about what she had just said. WTF? For Bush, just not anything he stands for!! Fortunately they were really very nice and on the whole it was really a good conversation, but it could have turned out very differently. As it was, they left a fat tip and it was all ok.

on edit: between employees there is no problem. Everyone is remarkably well informed from the line cooks to the managers and unless I am terribly mistaken we are 100% anti-Bush, possible exception being the owner of the restaurant who is only there for a few minutes everyday, and everyone is always trying to look busy when she is around so politics never comes up :)