It was a committee meeting, and a CEO was using the coldest-Wisconsin-winter-ever as proof that global warming didn’t exist. I had to leave the room so I wouldn’t explode with the news that global warming creates weather extremes, not just a general warming.
Such a small thing years ago, but I think about it constantly because it’s one of the few times I haven’t spoken up.
More recently, Maria Antonia and I had planned to go to a local political fundraiser, and she cancelled at the last minute. Her boss thought it was a bad idea since we are both semi-public figures and should remain neutral.
And then at my family reunion just this past weekend, we weren’t allowed to discuss politics or religion. Out on the patio, I secretly tried to goad one of my uncles into telling me who he was voting for, but silent he remained. Instead, we talked about the weather.
Business Week’s Bruce Weinsten argues in his ethics column that mum should be the word on politics, especially at work. Apparently, speaking up can bring you down career-wise.
“Along with sex, money, and religion, politics is one of the most controversial topics of conversation that exists,” he states. “We talk about sex with our closest friends (with whom we probably would not even discuss our income), but this kind of conversation is wisely held after business hours. Neither your salary nor your sex life is anyone’s business at the office.”
Except that Generation Y’s rituals fly in the face of Weinsten’s fearsome foursome.
As products of the Sex and the City generation, Belle and I openly discuss sex, but we also openly discuss income. I know what both she and her fiancé make, and they both know what I make. We know how much each of us paid for our condos, and how much debt or lack thereof, we both have.
This isn’t a trend relegated to personal relationships either. Nonprofits have routinely disclosed executive salaries as part of a law for increased accountability, and now transparent salaries are being implemented in forward-thinking companies like Brazen Careerist.
Taboo topics are quickly becoming acceptable as part of Generation Y’s demand for authenticity and transparency. Except, maybe, for politics.
Despite projections that we will define one of the most influential elections in history, in part due to online discussions facilitated by people like Tim Weaver and Milena Thomas in the Gen Y blogosphere, we still seem to be weary of expressing our opinions openly in the workplace.
“Ultimately I’m at work to work, and I wasn’t hired to discuss my personal political opinions,” one commenter argues. Which is like saying you weren’t hired to talk about the Red Sox, the back problem you have, or the Kooks concert you went to on Thursday night. Because I’m sure people are dying to hear how you made tacos with hot sauce AND sour cream more than your informed opinion on the most important issues of today.
What we believe in and have faith in informs our work and personal lives intimately, and to say that we shouldn’t discuss them anywhere is dangerous.
“The idea that practicing any profession somehow obliges or even encourages a vow of silence on any subject, politics or otherwise, that might offend someone somewhere, is odious,” argues author John Scalzi. “Everyone should be encouraged to say what they wish to say about the important matters of the day. Everyone should feel that participation in the life of their community and their state and nation is a critical act. To do less invites ignorance and ultimately tyranny.”
And to argue otherwise is to say that the whole idea of America – a democracy where people aren’t persecuted for speaking their minds – is based on a fallacy. But it isn’t. Generation Y is just entirely too quiet and conservative.
And while voicing your opinion may invite all sorts of opinions and criticism and the chance that you might – gasp! – have to defend your beliefs, we cannot have as our legacy a production that mindlessly follows the corporate establishment.
As one of the largest generations born into idealism, we are now facing the first true test of whether we will rise or recoil in the face of adversity. It doesn’t matter if you’re a librarian or are in the most public of professions, you have enormous political power.
Years from now, when I look back and reflect, I will know that I never, ever regretted opening my mouth, only keeping it shut.
35 replies on “Why Gen Y should talk about politics at work”
I think the old rules of never discussing politics is done. The rules were set because corporations provided lifetime employment. Now we live in the age of networking with our co-workers.
In the last month, I have personally discussed politics with dozens of people. Because I am a bit more politically oriented, I have been blessed with listening and providing facts to people who are only now starting to pay attention to the politics of the next four years.
I’m not pushy. Not threatening. But listening to the other person (something that needs to be done more when it comes to politics…).
Yet, one of the great job skills we have lost — both at work and at home — has been the ability to advocate a position. Advocate. Not berate, downgrade, or intimidate a different position. But advocate a position.
Advocating a position allows everyone to create a better solution. And advocating a political position is no different than advocating that the Red Sox is a better team then the Rays.
We have a responsibility to advocate our beliefs with our thinking, logic, and emotion. And to listen to those who differ with us so we can determine a better solution.
It’s time we got past division and started looking for common ground that helps everyone.
A great and timely post.
Right on the money.
There is no denying that sex, money, religion and politics are sensitive subjects of discussions. and this is true in and outside of the work environment. Intimacy, faith, beliefs, opinions may be more difficult to share for most people because they closely define us in a way. However by banishing tose topics altogether from conversations we are not adressing the real challenge which is about ensuring discussions on these topics are respectful. It’s not even about compromising but about our ability to provide a “safe” environment for these sensitive conversations. The kind of skills and mindset to have a respectful conversation should be taught and appreciated maybe more so than the ability to stear off sensitive topics.
Anyway with regard to politics and going back to the ideals of democracy as laid out so many years ago in Athens: isn’t it our duty as citizens to discuss politics and strive to be the best informed when making our choice in the vote?
Great thoughts, Rebecca. I’m becoming more comfortable discussing politics (and even blogging about it). Sure, you might ruffle some feathers, but that’s good – it means you’ve said something important.
I think (hope) that this taboo will disappear as Gen Y finds itself at the helm of more and more companies. As a generation that has come of age in inclusive public schools and has attended scores of ‘diversity’ training workshops, acceptance of various opinions should be second nature to us. I hope it’s more than simple philosophy, though, and people really can feel comfortable discussing politics at work.
Another area with these implications is religion. It, too, can make people uncomfortable. I’m all for religious dialog as long as one person isn’t abusing the other’s opinion or proselytizing them. Same goes for political discourse – let’s talk. Just don’t berate me or try to convert me if we’re on different sides of the issue.
I would be interested in your opinion on this scenario Rebecca. My uber conservative girlfriend interned this summer in a -very- liberal office. Her boss actually had a huge magnet to the effect of having no republican friends.
Because she was an intern and much younger than the people she worked with in corporate she chose to stay out of the conversation when they discussed politics.
Is this a scenario where perhaps you just hold your tongue ad the heavily outnumbered new addition?
@ Scot – Great observation that the way we work now helps defines the new rules of employment. I also heavily agree that we’ve lost the ability to advocate. I think a lot of it has to do with respect. We have to realize that others may have differing opinions and strongly-held values, but respect them enough to share our own and listen to them. Thanks for the comment!
@ Mathieu – Thank you for sharing your thoughts – especially because they are EXACTLY what I think! ; ) We don’t want to become mindless corporate drones. I think part of becoming informed is talking about it at work because you spend so much time there and presumably you work at your place of employment for a reason, and it is one of the better grounds to breed an atmosphere of respect.
@ Sam – I love that you brought up all the diversity training that organizations offer nowadays. Gen Y is one of the most accepting generations, so I have no doubt that if any generation can successful discuss politics at work, it’s us. Thanks for the revelation!
@ Ryan – Interesting scenario. After thinking about Sam’s comment and the different generations, I do think it’s easier to talk within your own generation, but I also don’t want to put other generations down. Everyone knows that people have different opinions. Heck, last election we were split down the middle. I don’t think that there’s any illusion that we’re ever all going to agree, but that’s the great beauty of it all. I don’t see the problem in discussing her opinion if they were already talking about politics. Thank you for sharing your story!
Yes! You are back to blogging. I hope my Tweet made you publish this one.
As for this post, it’s quite interesting. Before I read it, I would have agreed with BusinessWeek on the importance of keeping silent about politics in the workplace. I also preach that you should blog about politics either ;)
I’m still on the line with this one Rebecca, as I feel that differences of opinion can get you in trouble, especially if you are first starting out on the job (millennial). It also can be beneficial, if you and your manager are both voting for Obama, etc.
I think this election is going to bring more millennial voices to the polls.
I hope to see another blog post tomorrow :)
@ Dan – Your tweet did! Whenever I get a push from the readers I start to feel bad/inspired.. it’s a good combo ; ) I love that you’re disagreeing with me on my post because I think it highlights that you can do so while still being respectful, and that’s exactly how to discuss politics at work. I’ll try to work on another post this week, but can’t promise tomorrow … : ) Thanks you for all your support, it really does mean a lot to me.
Rebecca, you last comment with about disagreeing with being respectful is important. People can do it, but often they don’t. I work in education where the overwhelming majority of teachers and administrators are part of one political mind set. Those who are the minority almost never speak about politics, while those in the majority do not hesitate to speak about politics, even injecting it into official meetings.
Education has an institutional viewpoint. For good or bad, that is the fact.
If you were a member of the minority viewpoint, I could understand why you would not want to speak about your views. No good could come from it. You aren’t going to change the views of others. More than likely, they would see you as not supporting the institution of education as a whole. You would be forced to explain yourself and why you could work in education while supporting this minority viewpoint.
As for me, as an administrator, I don’t discuss it because I don’t want anyone to fell like I would judge them as an educator based on their political beliefs or that they should say something they don’t personally agree with, but are trying to placate an administrator.
If the political viewpoint is not institutionalized in your industry, then I say talk away, so long as it is with your peers in a personal way. If the political viewpoint is institutionalized, then I would advise to not discuss it.
Great topic Rebecca, and an important one.
I’m constantly annoyed by the amount of dogma I hear spouted about proper behavior and propriety in our society, both in and out of the workplace. There is a tendency to obey social norms without ever questioning them that disturbs me to no end. Being something of an anarchist, I question and push the concept of propriety whenever I can.
At work I and my coworkers talk freely about politics, sex, religion, and money. I’m part of a very diverse team at a pretty small organization, and we have managed to have disagreements and real discussions without impacting our performance or making our working environment uncomfortable.
More often then not, I think the problems come from people who get upset that people are ‘breaking the rules,’ not because they are actually offended or bothered, but simply because the rules are being broken. I’ve observed the same pattern in many positions. It’s a childish and blind obedience to dogma that tries to force everyone into small molds of behavior.
Okay, that was a bit of a rant. Sorry, this is a hot-button for me. On an aside, you’re on twitter! Awesome.
@ Rob – Fascinating viewpoint, thanks so much for sharing! It’s definitely a lot easier to speak up if you’re part of the majority. But I also believe that it’s perhaps even more important to talk about issues if you’re in the minority. That’s a big reason I like Milena Thomas. Her posts on politics often challenge my own view, and while we will never fully agree, it’s important to realize that that isn’t the point. The point is to learn more about ourselves and come to a better conclusion than either of us could separately. Idealistic, yes, but that’s the Gen Y in me : )
@ theo geer – Love, love your comment. Rants are the best! Your ideas on social norms are really important. Years ago, it was the social norm for women not to vote, for slavery to be acceptable, etc. Rules are there for a reason, but we should constantly be evaluating and pushing them, because we are constantly changing and evolving. Thank you for commenting!
Best entry yet, and the most intellectual (a sign that you’re growing up and in a positive direction, which is always good).
Still a tad bit too ego-centric for my taste (from both a personal and a “gen-y” perspective), but you will likely learn to shed this too in time.
Best,
Matt
Great post and sentiment Rebecca.
If I were only bold enough to talk politics at work. I only felt free to talk about politics, economics, and finance on my blog once I quit my job in the financial industry. For almost 5 years I’ve immersed myself in this stuff at work and pursuing a business degree with virtually no outlet. But that might have been a good thing, my private petri dish underwent some big changes in ideology. What I blog about these days feels like where I belong, though the refining process never stops. I remain open to opinions and changing my mind. That’s what brought me to where I am.
While being a “free agent” has led me to open my mouth more than I probably should – but it helps me develop where I stand, because I don’t always know. Blogging (in particular about heated topics) is exciting and life-changing. I’m not a fan of the personal assaults that frequently accompany blogging about politics, but far more often you get great response from thoughtful readers, and wonderful food for thought.
@ Matt – Thanks for the comment! I do think my opinions have matured since I started my blog – love that.
@ Milena – Interesting to me that you just started openly talking about politics, and it was neat to hear how you got from there to here. Your reasoning for blogging is the same as why I think it is so important to talk about politics at work, home, everywhere – it helps us all figure out what’s important to us. Thank you for the comment!
Hi Rebecca,
Just a side note to this post regarding global warming – the PBS show Frontline is debuting a show tonight at 8 PM your time named Heat. It’s a two hour show and if you miss it tonight you can probably catch it another night or watch it on their web site (pbs.org).
Mark
The first word that came to mind after reading your post is RESPECT as Mathieu mentioned earlier. Overall, I don’t think we respect one another. Unfortunately we still allow politics to divide us. We bash candidates, we accept negative advertising, and we spend less time dealing with the issues.
Personally, I am in favor of open communication on all topics. Scott Adams is my hero… not because I agree with everything he says, but because he makes people think for themselves. He throws out crazy ideas just to push our buttons.
Being a public figure is tricky. Your beliefs definitely influence your customers. The way I see it… if you are in the limelight it’s because your company believes in you… and normally this would indicate that you share similar values. Why would a company want to hide that?
The reality is that people take things out of proportion, people react EMOTIONALLY to opinions… I once read that Herb Kelleher disagreed with the notion that the customer is always right. Occasionally, it is NOT in the company’s best interest to please the customer.
Question: Should a company really care about losing customers whose values are so completely out of line with their own?
Great post Rebecca!
@ Stephanie On the topic of customers not being always right: great post on the Kelleher story and beyond by the CHO, Alexander Kjerulf…
http://positivesharing.com/2008/03/top-5-reasons-why-the-customer-is-always-right-is-wrong/
@ Mathieu. Thanks! I think that’s the same source I alluded to earlier. Hope you had a nice day. :)
{Ultimately I’m at work to work, and I wasn’t hired to discuss my personal political opinions,” one commenter argues. Which is like saying you weren’t hired to talk about the Red Sox, the back problem you have, or the Kooks concert you went to on Thursday night. }
I am so with you here!
If I talk to my co-workers and classmates about everything from what I did over the weekend, preferred alcohol brands/drinks, the fight with my mom , my sexuality and job/relocation decisions; why can’t I talk about what really matters, like my views on racism, capitalism, the freaking election?!?!?
I, personally, think its fun to make people squirm. But uncomfortability is why folks are less likely to share this information. Some people are unable/unwilling to defend their decisions and would rather not have that uncomfortable situation where they look rather stupid.
@ Mark W. – thanks so much for the suggestion. Sounds interesting, so I’ll definitely look it up.
@ Stephanie – Wow, you bring up some fabulous points! I’ve been talking about respect a lot lately, and it is definitely hard when you think you’ve been personally wronged not to lash out, but really important. In addition, I am an extremely emotional person. I hope what’s great about Gen Y is that we shift our emotionality towards empathy in order to understand other people’s viewpoints. Thanks for the comment!
@ Monica – Sometimes it’s good to be uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable a ton, but that’s usually when I learn the most. Especially when someone’s willing to be patient enough to share their opinion. Thank you for commenting!
Hallelujah, Rebecca!
Keep talkin’ :)
I’m trying to think about when I worked at Navigant Consulting and when I actually got called out by my manager in front of the team for saying “inappropriate” things. The manager is a really good friend of mine, and I can tell that she likes to flirt a lot. She’s one of those girls that gets a lot of guys and she’s proud of it.
So I notice this and feel that I can joke around with her. I tease her about the guys she goes out with, comment on her clothes, and ask her when are we going out on our “date” – jokingly of course.
Then one day she comments about making a trip down to Brazil. I ask her, “Are the girls in Brazil really as HOT as everyone says they are.” And in front of everyone, she stops me and says, “Jun, you always make the most inappropriate comments.” She called me out in front of everyone and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little embarrassed.
So I know I wasn’t talking about politics, but I was talking about an equally “forbidden” topic. I can easily say that you should be confident and just speak up, but what if you lose your job? Well then, “you didn’t belong in that culture. Go find another job.” It’s not that easy to just switch to another job once you’re comfortable in one.
So agree with you that you should feel free to speak your mind and not hold back; however, you have to understand the consequences of each action. Great post!
– Jun Loayza
[…] take it lightly, which makes it even more difficult for me, since neither candidate evokes the excitement that many in my generation are […]
I love your writing, Rebecca! It’s dynamic, inspiring, and action-oriented. For the first time, though, I find myself feeling a little prickly by the end of one of your postings. While I think it’s important to engage in conversations about politics in the workplace, I also believe it’s important for emerging Gen-Y leaders to be asking questions of colleagues they disagree with and really listening to the responses they receive. I’ve witnessed a lot of proselytizing in the name of “change” over the last year and it can be a real career-staller. Too many of my coaching clients have given political commentary that cost them promotions, mentoring, and collegial work environments, defending their choices as “a testament to their leadership.”
Five years ago I might have told such a person, “Good for you. Go find yourself a company with leaders whose viewpoints better align with your own.” But now I realize that dissension is a good thing when it’s a catalyst for dialogue rather than monologue. For a savvy Gen-Y leader knows the importance of listening without an agenda and helping facilitate understanding amidst difference. Enough of the workplace political discussions that preach to the choir or dichotomize the world into blue and red states. It’s counter to the values-driven leadership so many of us purport.
Defending one’s position is important but listening, not just hearing, is too.
So yes, let’s keep initiating difficult conversations in our workplaces and making sure that our voices are hard. But let’s do it in a way that models the “change” we seek.
We are forbidden to discuss politics at work. It’s a new rule. I notice that there aren’t any political bumper stickers in the parking lot either. We aren’t allowed to wear any political buttons or clothes. I feel like my work life is in another dimension and I can’t wait to get home to my real beliefs. I need the job so I keep quiet. Everyone needs their jobs and we all submit to this rule. I long for the good old days when we could agree to disagree. Of course, it pointed out the mental and character flaws of the “others”, but I’m sure they felt the same about me. That’s ok.
What do you think of the global warming freaks who, back in the 1970s, were global cooling freaks? There’s a lot of junk science out there.
I agree that there needs to be MORE talk about politics and issues.
Ignorance is a group sport. Idiots need to have a reality check. ( Bossplaya)
I remember a Gil Scott Heron song where he reminds us “If you dont STAND for something, then you will fall for ANYTHING”
thanks and take care
Bry
Rebecca,
Gen Y gets it. And Millenials will follow even stronger in your suit. Interrelated, interconnected, all relevant, part of the process and the game. All fair game. Get it out, onto the floor, into the open.
Amen to that.
We are done with the closet.
[…] I know the election’s over, but there are still a ton of opportunities for politics and religion to be brought up. After all, most of us spend 40 hours or more a week with our co-workers. These things are bound to come up at some point, and pretending like religion and politics don’t exist inhibits relationships and understanding. […]
Rebecca,
One comment I haven’t seen on the replies is a sentiment that I feel.
Naturally, we all feel that our opinions are ultimately correct — otherwise we wouldn’t hold them! I’m no exception. Yet, when I examine my own political beliefs, correct though I think they are, I find myself politically homeless.
So, what ought one do when one has shall we say principled though atypical political views? I have my reasons, I think I’m principled, and if one picked a fight I think I could handle an argument. But frankly, when political issues come up at work, it’s easier to politely nod my head and wait for the conversation to change topics.
[…] course, just like politics – and yes, even sex – religion is bound to come up as you get to know people. It’s human nature. But there are so many things which make the current job market tough for […]
[…] course, just like politics – and yes, even sex – religion is bound to come up as you get to know people. It’s human nature. But there are so many things which make the current job market tough for […]
[…] Thorman wrote a great post a while back on how Gen Y should discuss politics in the workplace, that the political stances we […]
Thank you for mentioning my work, Rebecca!
[…] Why Gen Y should talk about politics at work Taboo topics are quickly becoming acceptable as part of Generation Y’s demand for authenticity […]
[…] “As products of the Sex and the City generation, Belle and I openly discuss sex, but we also o… […]