What to Know Before Bringing up Politics at Work - The Muse

What to Know Before Bringing up Politics at Work - The MuseWhat to Know Before Bringing up Politics at Work Politics. It was already a taboo subject in offices before November 2016, but with rising tensions across America, it has become an even riskier topic to discuss.With that said, the current political environment is such that its hard to imagine not talking about it at all without burying a part of ourselves. One quick midday trip to social media can result in you wanting- or even needing- to say something aloud to the person who sits next to you. But even if you work in an office that encourages you to be yourself at work and youre not at risk of losing your job by speaking up, you shouldnt just assume that its a good idea to share your thoughts. Thats not to say you should stay quiet, but instead ask yourself this critical question firstAm I assuming that everyone within earshot shares my views?Frequently, when people share their political views in the office its because they feel like its safe to. In most cases, that means liberals feeling comfortable speaking up in blue states or cities, and conservatives speaking up in states or districts that are clearly red. If everyone else agrees with you, theres no risk of being controversial or offensive, right?Wrong.Unless you work for a super small company where everyones beliefs are out in the open (which is unlikely), theres a good chance that a number of colleagues disagree with you on at least some (if not all) issues. That guy in accounting who shared that hes pro-LGBTQ rights may also be pro-life or fiscally conservative. The woman on the sales team in the break room may feel alienated and unwelcome in an office with vocal Trump supporters, and therefore hide her feminist beliefs.Now, this doesnt mean that you should go around and quiz your colleagues about what they believe in (really, please dont do that). What it does mean is that you should be thoughtful when expressing your beliefs, and bringing as much empathy and compassion as you can to the table.Because even if you disagree with Sheryls voting choices- and are maybe even offended by the values you see reflected in her vote- shes still your co-worker. And as much as you (hopefully) took this job because of the companys culture and mission, work is not a place that guarantees that everyones value system line up perfectly with yours.In the office, you and your co-workers are a team, bringing your skills and passion to the table each day to make that mission a reality. If you remember that, its not hard to also remember that you owe it to your colleagues to be considerate and respectful.Pretty koranvers youre not the person being inconsiderate and disrespectful? Here are some real examples, Ive heard from well-meaning peopleA co-worker sharing information about a political event with the full team, assuming everyone would be interested and excited.Another co-worker deciding a person didnt share her beliefs because they did not express interest in attending said event.Two colleagues laughing about supporters of a specific presidential candidate around the office coffee machine, unaware that others could hear them. A person jumping to conclusions about a co-workers policy beliefs based on which candidate they voted forIf youre in the majority in your office, you may be asking yourself, So what, Im clearly in the right and theyre clearly in the wrong. But thats a pretty poor defense. Because one day, youll be in the minority on an issue and these innocent jokes by the coffee machine will make you feel excluded, and possibly unsafe. So the next time youre thinking about bringing up that political article you saw on Facebook at work, take a breath, and ask yourself if youre assuming that everyone around you shares your views. Unless you can 100%, without a doubt, say they do, dont bring it up. By pausing and asking yourself this one simple question, youll be doing your part to make sure that your office is an inclusive and welcoming environment. And in a culture thats as divided as ours is now, thatd be doing the right thing- regardless of where you stand.