Office Politics
When do real Political opinions matter to the work place?
In most countries an employer is not allowed to ask a potential employee about their political following or religion. I have recently been wondering if there would be more work place harmony if employers were allowed to question some basic beliefs of their employees, and hire based on the responses, to co-ordinate more work place harmony.
Where I work there are only a handful of employees. We have to work side by side and get along fairly well in order for the day to be productive. For the most part it is one of the better places where I have ever worked because we would all rather get along than fight, however some issues, and differences of opinions, come to the front at social events such as the “Staff Christmas Party”.
For a few days following these events some feathers remain ruffled but we go back to getting along very shortly. I am well aware, however that in some work places the staff are not so tolerant of each others beliefs. In fact in some places they form up into sides based on political opinion or religion.
If people work together, they will be more productive if they want to help each other, rather than harbor any feeling of hatred or wanting the other person to look bad.
What are your employees talking about or fighting over when they gather at the water cooler?
Not everyone is passionate about politics or has strong political views, but for those that do, their opinions are more than just political ones. If you support a party that is high on supporting environmental causes, chances are you are too. Therefore you are not going to want to be working with a bunch of people who drive Hummers two blocks to work, and who are generally wasteful people. If you support a political party that believes wealth should be shared equally among the people, you are not going to want to work with people who think that rich people deserve more or are more important than everyone else. You get the picture.
People cannot help the way they believe, or how they feel on certain issues pertaining to everyday life. Those issues are then put forth into our political views. This goes hand in hand with how we think in our daily lives. Most of us have friends with similar views.
Again, having co-workers who get along is very important to the running of any business, particularly a small business where people are often working along side of one another in, what should be, a co-operative manner.
While maybe it is illegal to ask a person what there political views are, and illegal to hire based on this, it might be something we should be aware of when staffing. Similar minded people will get along better. People of opposing views might just try to sabotage each other, and thereby hurt the company in the long run.
11 Comments
Nice article. It makes a lot of sense.
Very informative article, well done with this one
Such an informative write with good questions also.
I’m usually somewhat opinionated, but also pretty tolerant of others’ opinions. I’m willing to listen to another view, and may or may not change my own. But I know people who are not tolerant, and yes, they can be really difficult to deal with in the workplace because of that. You take a good look at it. Good article!
You have a good perspective on the workplace. You will always find some people who are intolerant and respect nobodys views but their own. I’s hard to get along with those folks and your best bet if you work with someone like that is to keep your views to yourself and don’t be drawn into a discussion. Mum is the word.
i hate office politics. make the office a cold, cruel world. making one always on the guard and struggling. really hate it.
…birds of the same feather…nice article
What you are suggesting is surely sticky on the legal level! I can just see the lawsuits flying furiously here in America over this one as people would be accused of racism and religious bigotry and sexism.
No one likes office politics – except the ones manipulating said politics – and I suppose one has to remember we are there to work, not make friends – pretty cold, isn’t it?!
I’ve heard this suggestion of yours is grabbing hold in Europe as a trial ballon of better employment atmospheres. It will be interesting to see if they can make it work.
In the end, though, I think it boils down to one life philosophy: Are people willing to dial it back, behave themselves when out in public and respect everyone’s choices even when they think those ideas and choices are looney or disrespectful of their own? Good stimulating write! ~ d
I try to stay out of politics at work. Any type of politics.
I hear ya! If I can help it I don’t talk about politics at work! It’s so split about who is on what side that I chose to stay clear!
I recently watched a co-worker of mine preach to another because of his choice not to vote. Crazy!! Nice read. Thanks