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Much of Eastern Europe is ruled by dictatorships or a very homogeneous culture and political views. Wouldn't surprise me if one only talks about social issues w

by Kranar 6y ago

Much of Eastern Europe is ruled by dictatorships or a very homogeneous culture and political views. Wouldn't surprise me if one only talks about social issues with close co-workers out of fear of workplace retaliation than due to professionalism. That said, almost all the Russians and Ukrainians I work with are very happy to discuss politics among one another and even with me and they have very strong opinions about the political situation where they emigrated from.

tester756 6y ago
>Wouldn't surprise me if one only talks about social issues with close co-workers out of fear of workplace retaliation than due to professionalism. Not really, I never felt like I'd be kicked for talking about politics, but it's just not productive, very often relies on emotions, full of difficult to verify informations and causes biases. So, don't force* people to do politics, being proficent in politics & tricks requires a lot of effort. * You'll finally have to pick the ""right"" side.
- Kranar 6y ago
  You'll have to excuse me if I don't exactly believe that someone who advocates for fair hiring practices in terms of racial, gender, religion and sexual orientation won't face workplace retaliation in a region of the world that still has a relatively poor human rights record on such issues. It's easy to not discuss politics when most people in the workplace have a very homogenous view of said politics, and when anyone who might disagree with company policy that could adversely affect people on the basis of social issues are kept out of the office. Then again, Eastern Europe is fairly big and it's not fair for me to paint the entire region with a single brush stroke. Where specifically in Eastern Europe do you have most experience with?
  - tester756 6y ago
    >Where specifically in Eastern Europe do you have most experience with? Poland
  - username90 6y ago
    In most of Europe you can't just fire someone for no reason, and their political views is not a valid reason to fire someone no matter if it is right wing or left wing.
Viliam1234 6y ago
> almost all the Russians and Ukrainians I work with are very happy to discuss politics among one another and even with me Are they discussing politics at work with their peers, or do they also feel comfortable when their bosses are present? For me, this would be a huge difference. With some colleagues, I am comfortable discussing politics. With others, I am not (either because their opinions seem to crazy to me, or because they seem too obsessed). But debating politics with a boss... I probably wouldn't feel safe to express my opinions at all. And "companies will adopt stances on current societal and political debates" seems like not only bosses will be involved, but essentially the company will tell you what is the correct opinion, end of debate. Thank you, people above 40 in Eastern Europe already had an experience with this, and probably didn't like it.
- Kranar 6y ago
  I am their boss and they don't really give a damn whether I'm there or not. There is a rift between the older guys and the younger guys, the younger generation hates Putin but the older generation admires him, even though they acknowledge his flaws. I am fairly certain that in many parts of Eastern Europe, you'd be lucky if the worst thing that happened to you was you lost your job for speaking the way these guys do.
flippinburgers 6y ago
As an outside observer it seems that workplace retaliation is very much a part of companies that vocalize their politics. In other words, only right-think is approved lest you be on the wrong side of history.

by Kranar 6y ago

tester756 6y ago

>Wouldn't surprise me if one only talks about social issues with close co-workers out of fear of workplace retaliation than due to professionalism. Not really, I never felt like I'd be kicked for talking about politics, but it's just not productive, very often relies on emotions, full of difficult to verify informations and causes biases. So, don't force* people to do politics, being proficent in politics & tricks requires a lot of effort. * You'll finally have to pick the ""right"" side.

Kranar 6y ago
You'll have to excuse me if I don't exactly believe that someone who advocates for fair hiring practices in terms of racial, gender, religion and sexual orientation won't face workplace retaliation in a region of the world that still has a relatively poor human rights record on such issues. It's easy to not discuss politics when most people in the workplace have a very homogenous view of said politics, and when anyone who might disagree with company policy that could adversely affect people on the basis of social issues are kept out of the office. Then again, Eastern Europe is fairly big and it's not fair for me to paint the entire region with a single brush stroke. Where specifically in Eastern Europe do you have most experience with?
- tester756 6y ago
  >Where specifically in Eastern Europe do you have most experience with? Poland
- username90 6y ago
  In most of Europe you can't just fire someone for no reason, and their political views is not a valid reason to fire someone no matter if it is right wing or left wing.

Viliam1234 6y ago

> almost all the Russians and Ukrainians I work with are very happy to discuss politics among one another and even with me Are they discussing politics at work with their peers, or do they also feel comfortable when their bosses are present? For me, this would be a huge difference. With some colleagues, I am comfortable discussing politics. With others, I am not (either because their opinions seem to crazy to me, or because they seem too obsessed). But debating politics with a boss... I probably wouldn't feel safe to express my opinions at all. And "companies will adopt stances on current societal and political debates" seems like not only bosses will be involved, but essentially the company will tell you what is the correct opinion, end of debate. Thank you, people above 40 in Eastern Europe already had an experience with this, and probably didn't like it.

Kranar 6y ago
I am their boss and they don't really give a damn whether I'm there or not. There is a rift between the older guys and the younger guys, the younger generation hates Putin but the older generation admires him, even though they acknowledge his flaws. I am fairly certain that in many parts of Eastern Europe, you'd be lucky if the worst thing that happened to you was you lost your job for speaking the way these guys do.

flippinburgers 6y ago

As an outside observer it seems that workplace retaliation is very much a part of companies that vocalize their politics. In other words, only right-think is approved lest you be on the wrong side of history.