Vote Against Talking Politics in the Workplace

Vote Against Talking Politics in the WorkplaceVote Against Talking Politics in the WorkplaceMore often than not, talking politics in the workplace doesnt end with high-fives and likes. Its far more likely to generate ill will and productivity problems.Sure, you have a right to your own opinion, and free speech is protected by the First Amendment. But if youre interviewing for a new job or working in an office, its not the same as debating political issues with neighbors or sharing your views about a politicians tweet with like-minded friends online.According to a survey by Robert Half, 22 percent of more than 1,000 workers polled said theyd gotten into a heated discussion with a coworker during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Fifteen percent of respondents even reported that their productivity had suffered as a result of talking politics at work.These discussions can fray relationships with colleagues. In fact, a 2017 survey about work and well-being by the American Psychologica l Association found that 24 percent of workers avoid coworkers because of their political views.Bottom line Dont mix work (or your job search) with button-pushing politics. Following are some tips on how to deal with political talk. First, well address job landseekers, then employees.Advice for job seekers on all things politicalIf youre looking for a job in todays polarized climate, be mindful of politics even before your interview. Unless youre applying for a job with a politician or an organization with a political affiliation, theres no need to espouse your viewpoints on candidates, campaigns or current affairs. Consider this adviceConduct a digital search of your name. Type your name into a search engine using quotation marks, such as John Smith. Scroll through at least the first three pages of results. If you find anything online that you wouldnt want a hiring manager to see, including potentially controversial or off-putting political statements youve made, do your best to re move them.Consider going private. Do you ever use social media as a place to vent about political matters? You might consider locking down your accounts. With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you can set your profile to private, where only your approved friends can see your posts.Keep your resume and cover letter apolitical. A typo on a resume is a common red flag. Heres another one Providing too much personal information. Many jobs seekers make the mistake of oversharing. Employers dont need to know about your marital status, religion, hobbies, pet peeves - or your political persuasion. Dont list political affiliations on your resume or share political viewpoints in your cover letter, unless it directly relates to a job youve held or the one youre seeking.Maintain a politics-free zone during your interview. If youre preparing for a job interview and planning to bring up current news stories as a good way to break the ice, dont. Hot political issues in the news are a taboo subject best avoided. Even if you get the strong sense that youre in line with the hiring managers political persuasions, never play political pundit.SEARCH OUR OPEN JOBSAdvice for employees regarding politicsOnce youre in the workplace, you might find political banter is commonplace. But there are downsides to joining in. The conversations can be emotionally charged and divisive. And they can hinder collaboration.So, what are the best ways to manage political conversations at work? Here are four tipsDont debate or lecture on political topics. Obviously, the safest bet is to refrain from talking politics at all. But if you feel you must engage in some political chatter, because everyone in the room is doing it, try to approach it in a lighthearted manner. Limit yourself to general comments or try to change the subject. That reminds me of an episode of House of Cards, could help you move on to discussing favorite TV shows instead of real-life politics.Stand your ground. Dont feel pressured i nto offering your views. You can always politely excuse yourself by saying with a smile, Wow, Im staying out of this one If a group discussion becomes confrontational, reiterate your preference to keep political chit-chat to a minimum while at the office. Sorry, talking politics in the workplace just isnt my thing. Lets get back to work-related matters.Stay focused on your work projects. Pay attention to what you need to accomplish. Dont allow yourself to get sidetracked by others who are obsessed with monitoring the latest political news cycle. If a thorny issue irrelevant to the work at hand comes up in the lunch room or at the water cooler, take it as a cue to head back to your desk or put on headphones.Watch whats said after work, too. Remember that what you say to colleagues outside of work may cause them to form opinions of you. Exercise the same judgment of treading lightly around current events if you want to keep happy hour happy. The same advice applies when exchanging ema il and text messages with coworkers.What happens if you do talk about politics in the workplace and discover youve offended someone? The best etiquette is to apologize quickly and sincerely for any off-putting comments that made someone else uncomfortable.Final word? If you find yourself heading down the path to talking politics in the workplace, make a sharp detour and save your energy.Subscribe to the newsletter to get articles and resources to help you land a new job, succeed in your career, and build and manage a winning team - all sent directly to your inbox.