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>We literally have no practice handling differences regarding the very items people are passionate about. Looking at it from the employer side, that passion is

>We literally have no practice handling differences regarding the very items people are passionate about. Looking at it from the employer side, that passion is precisely why these policies are being enacted. Were I employing someone, I'm required to not have a hostile work environment, which includes certain jokes (because people may be offended), and now includes politics (because people may be offended), and people being offended means I can get sued. The safest thing I can do, that any company can do, is say "check your politics at the door" and then fire anyone who does it anyways. It's a garbage solution for the reasons you bring up, but unless we change how those regulations are set up, it's the option that many will take.

ergothus 7y ago
IANAL, but I don't think a hostile work environment means "no one ever says something that is offensive", but rather an environment where that is normal and accepted. If we learn how to be more adult in our conversations, which includes: * Trying not to offend * Being open to accepting that we have * Try not to repeat * Accepting that others will make mistakes and can change their ways ...then we're not hostile. (But again, IANAL) Given that being "non-political" is inherently not possible (see above posts regarding the inevitability of political issues affecting the workplace to enter the workplace), the above points may be hard, but are the more plausible option. That doesn't mean ALL politics has to enter the office, but firing anyone that doesn't "check their politics at the door" just won't work. And regardless of office rules, we as society need to learn these skills SOMEWHERE, because we've made it a social rule not to discuss these topics anywhere people might disagree. We're coming up on a few holidays, and I expect the "can't we just have a peaceful dinner and not discuss these stressful topics" to start making the annual rounds. It's not regulations, it's society, and society isn't going away so we need to adjust it.
- DATACOMMANDER 7y ago
  Yes, but...actually try to put yourself in an employer’s shoes.

ergothus 7y ago

IANAL, but I don't think a hostile work environment means "no one ever says something that is offensive", but rather an environment where that is normal and accepted. If we learn how to be more adult in our conversations, which includes: * Trying not to offend * Being open to accepting that we have * Try not to repeat * Accepting that others will make mistakes and can change their ways ...then we're not hostile. (But again, IANAL) Given that being "non-political" is inherently not possible (see above posts regarding the inevitability of political issues affecting the workplace to enter the workplace), the above points may be hard, but are the more plausible option. That doesn't mean ALL politics has to enter the office, but firing anyone that doesn't "check their politics at the door" just won't work. And regardless of office rules, we as society need to learn these skills SOMEWHERE, because we've made it a social rule not to discuss these topics anywhere people might disagree. We're coming up on a few holidays, and I expect the "can't we just have a peaceful dinner and not discuss these stressful topics" to start making the annual rounds. It's not regulations, it's society, and society isn't going away so we need to adjust it.

DATACOMMANDER 7y ago
Yes, but...actually try to put yourself in an employer’s shoes.