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10 Tips for Talking Politics at Work

How to Survive Election Season Without Killing Your Coworkers or Getting Fired

5. Be Wary of the Personal Issues

It's one thing to go back and forth on tax plans and foreign policy differences between the candidates, but it's a whole different ballgame when some of the hot-button social issues come into play.

First of all, even when you think you know your coworkers well it's very possible you don't. So when a contentious and very personal topic like gay marriage comes up, you never know if your assertions that marriage is strictly between one man and one woman are deeply offending a coworker who is gay. And remember, not all of the people you assume to be heterosexual really are. Other political issues, such as abortion, fall into the same category. So no matter what your personal views are, they're best left unsaid if there's even the slightest chance you'll end up offending or shaming a coworker.

Some will argue that it's impossible (and a waste of time) to tip-toe around everyone's feelings, but this is a workplace we're talking about -- not a public forum to air grievances about the political issues of the day.  

 

  • Aaron Gouveia

    Aaron Gouveia has worked as the Content Manager of Salary.com since 2011. Prior to that, he was an award-winning journalist at several prominent New England newspapers. Read more...