Workplace should have boundaries for politics
By Karen Dybis
Gannett News Service
Peter Loria will talk politics with anyone.
Clarence Tabb jr. • Gannett News Service
Just ask his co-workers at Consolidated Title Services LLC in Southfield, Mich., where he listens to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, passes out Bush-Cheney bumper stickers and displays a portrait of President Bush and the first lady next to his children's pictures.
Peter Loria, of Consolidated Title Services LLC, a Republican, debates politics with co-worker Erin Robertson.
Loria loves to debate Jake Ehart, a title examiner and the office's self-described liberal. Ehart's cubicle is adorned with buttons demanding "Regime Change," a mantra among supporters of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Both men are passionate about their politics, but keep the partisan banter friendly. With others, Ehart is more guarded. "What you say depends on who you're talking to," Ehart said.
With the presidential election less than a month away, politics inevitably spill into the workplace, leaving many workers in the crossfire. The rhetoric is especially heated this year.
Voters are wrangling over the war in Iraq and the economy as the two polarizing candidates enter the home stretch.
Here are some tips for discussing politics in the workplace, from consulting firm Ajilon Professional Staffing: • Allow others to voice their opinions and viewpoints. • Respect other viewpoints or requests to discuss politics elsewhere. • Ask questions or remain quiet instead of vocalizing your opinion if you don't want to discuss the political topic. • Make sure statements are not offensive to others or cross ethical lines. • Steer clear of broad statements based on gender, race, religion and income. • Focus the conversation on the issues instead of particular candidate's personality, traits or family. • Excuse yourself from the conversation if it becomes uncomfortable — say you have an assignment deadline, a meeting to hold or a client call.
"That's all anyone talks about these days," said Herman Harris, a plumber and Democrat from Detroit.
How to talk about politics at work
In this age of political correctness, employers and workers alike are trying to walk the line between staying mum on their political leanings and having a free exchange of ideas. Sometimes, it's the boss who is stumping at the water cooler for his candidate, leaving subordinates with little choice but to hold their tongues.
"Folks are looking for where the boundaries are," said William B. Allen, a professor of political science at Michigan State University.
Company policies vary widely on what workers may say or do while on the clock. Even labor and human resource experts are split on how employers should handle the issue.
Some employers have created well-defined boundaries on politics in the office. For example, Borders Group Inc. and Ford Motor Co. say they limit political displays to maintain a neutral atmosphere. General Motors Corp. bans its employees from using company e-mail for political use, preventing staff from sending chain mail supporting a particular candidate.
Policing the issue is an informal affair, employers say.
"If we observe political expression or other employees point it out to us, we talk with the employee and ask them to remove it. ... It is quite low-key and works for us," said Borders' Anne Roman, spokeswoman for the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based bookseller.
Others such as auto supplier Lear Corp., Fifth Third Bank and Pulte Homes Inc. have no formal policy. Instead, officials say they let common sense rule.
"We pretty much leave that up to the good judgment of our employees," said Mark Mary-mee, spokesman for Pulte.
A few businesses are encouraging workers to get involved in the political process. Detroit-based Comerica Inc. points employees to BankersVote.com, a nonpartisan Web site that helps people register to vote, find information on federal and state candidates and request absentee ballots.
Surveys show most employees believe that they should stay mum on political issues in the office.
Almost half of workers said they would rather listen than voice an opinion in an office discussion on politics, according to a recent survey by Ajilon Professional Staffing.
This shift is recent, experts say. The United States has a long history of carrying politics into the workplace, said MSU's Allen. But people have become uneasy with politics and other topics, worried they could offend someone or be accused of harassment in a misunderstanding.
"There has been a chilling effect throughout society ... that has accompanied political correctness," Allen said. "There has been collateral damage to a social habit."
