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I’ll go ahead and preface this by putting out all my cards on the table. I’m a Republican. I’m not an overly aggressive tea party sort, but more so your typical run of the mill, establishment Republican who personally prefers John Kasich this go around. I also happen to work in a very left leaning office where I am almost certainly the lone Republican. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a relatively politically active guy. I was a political science major during my undergrad (#PGP), and I’m currently working on my Masters in a related discipline. I’ll share political stuff on social media, talk about gun rights with my relatives at Thanksgiving, and I’ve even interned with a few members of Congress. With this all being said, I’m a firm believer that talking politics in the workplace can never, ever lead to any sort of a happy ending and should be avoided at all costs.
The water cooler is a staple of almost any American office. It’s where you catch up with Bill from accounting about the Redskins game last night, make small talk about the weather, and bond over the misery of your morning commute. However, recently, following the firestorm of nationally televised debates, this once safe zone has been infested by political discussion ranging from “free” college to ISIS.
I generally make the dash for the comforts of my second home, my cubicle. I’ve worked in only a few professional environments before, but I’ve always observed those who make it their own personal mission to broadcast their opinions. I’ve seen offices with Obama stickers all over the file drawers, “Don’t Tread on Me” computer backgrounds, and even the occasional “Coexist” jacket pin. We live in a country where we are incredibly blessed to have the privilege of free speech, but like many things, I think this is best left at home, alongside any discussion about your child’s piano lessons (I’m looking at you, Janet from Human Resources).
The unfortunate reality is, we’re living in a society where more and more people are so polarized over their political views that it leads to some of the more petty actions I’ve seen. One hundred comment long Facebook debates, the blind sharing epidemic, you name it, and it’s probably out there. An office should not be home to these sorts of public forums. Like many of you, my headphones are perhaps my most prized possession. Generally, these bad boys and their Dave Matthews playlist save me from the typical office banter around me, ranging from the classic humble bragging about children to how much of a bitch Sally from sales is.
Recently, these music-filled gifts from the Gods have saved me from my colleagues who become political analysts the morning after any nationally televised debates. Most offices require a cohesive unit with at least a somewhat coherent line of communication which is generally strengthened by a cordial relationship with your fellow cubicle warriors.
Nothing seems to divide people in today’s society more so than discussions about hot button issues. In other words, when the sales team isn’t on speaking terms because Bill’s stance on Planned Parenthood isn’t gelling with the others, that’s bad news for all of us. Politics, much like one’s personal life is always best left out of the office. Leave the water cooler talk to how shitty your commute was this morning or why Clemson is going to win it all this year, not the hot button issues your aunt shared to her 37 Facebook friends every day.
The bad news is that this election is only just getting started. The first primaries are still months away, and half of the country is still seemingly running on the Republican side. Let’s all do ourselves a favor and sit out of the generic office political discussions this go around. Do your research, stay informed, and for the sake of your civic duty, don’t forget to vote, just make sure your whole office doesn’t know which way you did..
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Respond
I’m new at my office, which is well over 50% women. They were all talking about how everyone has to vote for Hillary Clinton because it’s time for a female President. I kind of smirked and one woman told me anyone who doesn’t vote for her is either actively or passively sexist. I laughed and promptly excused myself. I’m making friends already!
I die inside every time someone says that – I work in politics and I hear it all the time.
I mean, if you want to vote for her because you agree with her policies I 100% support that. I won’t vote for her, but it’s not because she’s a woman. It’s because I think she’s an idiot.
Your office sounds like it’s full of the Clinton campaign’s target voters.
Someone in my office said “I’ll never vote for a Woman who can’t control her man”. I work in a government office under a republican regime. I fit in perfectly.
If I hear my coworker talk about how great Hillary Clinton is, I think I might lose it. John Kasich getting the Republican nomination would be a miracle and a blessing.
This is going to be a really, really, really bad General Election.
I can’t wait for the beautiful disaster that is the presidential election cycle.
I’d rather listen to any misinformed left wing political hobbyist before I listen to DMB.
That’s an opinion I’ll stand by right there.
If it’s DMB you are insulting, then I do not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend for your right to say it.
Clemson will win it all this year. Go tigers.
Not exactly the same, but I live in a town that voted for Obama 88% in 2012, and for 4% of voters, Obama wasn’t left wing enough. I on the other hand, will be supporting Rand Paul and have a book self full of Hayek, Friedman, and Ayn Rand to name a few. So yeah, I just keep my mouth shut about that shit at the bar. Only thing worse than mixing politics with the office, is mixing it with booze.
88% Obama…You live in DC too?
Over in the Defense Industry all we talk about is how miserable budget cuts make us, Damn Liberals
USDA here, same story. I have insurance since I’m a grad student but my coworkers are all incredibly nervous.
We should just elect a chair and then have Clint Eastwood interpret what it says and then propagate it over the global airways. If other people saw that we elected an inatimate object as president with a gritty movie star speaking for it, no one would fuck with us because it will show how batshit crazy we actually are over here in America.
May god have mercy on your soul.
What?
You don’t remember that time when Clint Eastwood came up on stage at the Republican National Convention and talked to an empty chair in attempts to symbolize Obama not doing anything during his presidency so far? Since presidential candidates generally don’t do too much to begin with since they are overrun by corporate lobbyists and stalemated by the other party in Congress, we should just elect an empty chair and everyone overseas in those countries that hate us will see it and question if we as a nation are okay and might be intimidated by our insane logic and might actually not hate us as much anymore since we would actually level the playing fiend in terms of insanity by doing this.
If you’re a democrat keep your politics to away from the water cooler and preferably every human being.