# Co workers who discuss politics on the job **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 25, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124 "2016-03-25T13:13:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/41 "2016-03-29T00:41:09Z")
I quit a job in part because the politics of many of the people there were out for everyone to see. Sometimes, those topics (politics, religion, sex, do you like the smell of your own farts) can be fun and interesting - but only when your coworkers have moved from coworkers to friends and you can trust that even an argument is going to be respectful. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/42 "2016-03-29T22:58:34Z")
> [@Mithrander](#): > > These days I flat out refuse to discuss religion or politics in the workplace. It’s all fun and games until you’re unemployed and homeless. I’ve been homeless, and I’m less interested in fighting against echo chambers than I am in having a warm and safe place to sleep every night. That’s sad that there are belief systems so widely considered unacceptable that an illegal firing would stand like that. I bet there were more than a few at that job who openly wore cross necklaces. An example of inequalities and echo chambers reinforcing each other. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/43 "2016-04-01T19:38:07Z")
> [@umop\_ap\_sdn](#): > > That’s sad that there are belief systems so widely considered unacceptable that an illegal firing would stand like that. Yeah, pretty much. I had a free consult with a lawyer, and she said that if I followed a more “traditional” religion, she felt I would have a case, but as a Satanist she wouldn’t take it without a large retainer and warnings that she thought I was throwing my money away. She claimed it wasn’t because of the laws, but the local judges. I flat out didn’t have the money for a large retainer, so I just moved on. To be honest though, when your personal religion is effectively a big middle finger upraised at the dominant religion in your culture, you kind of should expect you won’t win any popularity contests. However, you do learn quickly when to keep your mouth shut. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/44 "2016-04-08T22:20:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I don’t talk politics at work. I do not allow anyone else to talk politics with me at work. > > None of my business, none of their business. > > Regards, > Shodan That is a good policy. I like it. ---
**Author:** ![erocked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f08c70/32.png) [@erocked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erocked)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/45 "2016-04-09T03:47:58Z")
I work with several conspiracy theorists. Think how I feel. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/46 "2016-04-11T01:25:28Z")
> [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > Choice 1: Try to get work done while listening to people spout the most ignorant opinions you’ve ever heard in your entire life, while they’re not doing work. > > Choice 2: Stop working and argue with idiots. > > Both choices are really fun. Shut up about politics at work. I don’t care if you’re on my side, if you’re talking politics, I’m busy doing your job for you. Shutty uppy. Thank you! “Shutty Uppy” has entered my lexicon. My vague new year’s resolution on cutting down on swearing has been strengthened by using “Shutty Uppy” in place of the eff bomb. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/47 "2016-04-11T03:08:19Z")
people who want to discuss politics religion or compare compensation packages at work should…errrm nevermind, I’m not sure what I want to say would be permitted here in the pit and I don’t care to find out. But trust me, its bad. very bad ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/48 "2016-04-11T14:53:49Z")
I don’t discuss politics, I just tell people how to vote … or they can find another job … ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/49 "2016-04-11T15:28:49Z")
We just had an email from the office manager that politics is not to be discussed overtly at the office. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/50 "2016-04-11T16:27:34Z")
I get what people are saying about “representing” a valid, rational, opposing point, but I won’t, not just for the reasons stated above that lots of people are not interested in listening and especially like shouting down women, but also because: I am already representing _plenty_, and things that are more important to me. I am a minority, atheist, woman, who’s spent a significant portion of her life being the only non-white person in the room. I feel like that’s enough to bring to the table. I am not adding more controversy, thank you. People who want you to discuss politics just want to yell at you, any way, in my experience. WHY DON’T YOU LIKE MY CANDIDATE. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/51 "2016-04-11T16:34:27Z")
Oh yeah, that’s not at all the tenor of the political conversations at my work. I’m not sure who anyone even supports, though the big boss is a huge Sanders supporter. We’re far more interested in discussing the respective ideologies of the parties, the practical aspects of caucuses vs primaries, the proper role of superdelegates and if they even should exist, that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/52 "2016-04-11T17:19:32Z")
I am a nurse, in Canada, who worked in a provincial hospital. (Psychiatric) I worked with anti-vaxxers, people who were against any form of government taxation, people who believed in privatized medicine, and someone who was fiercely anti-union despite making the “sunshine list” ( A published yearly report of people on the public payroll who made over $100,000/year) precisely because she was making the top of union scale as a nurse. I kept my opinions to myself a lot. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/53 "2016-04-11T18:57:43Z")
> [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](#): > > … the “sunshine list” ( A published yearly report of people on the public payroll who made over $100,000/year) … I like this. Can we get one here in the States? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/54 "2016-04-11T19:37:19Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > people who want to discuss politics religion or compare compensation packages at work should…errrm nevermind, I’m not sure what I want to say would be permitted here in the pit and I don’t care to find out. But trust me, its bad. > > very bad Worse than Oooga Booga? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/55 "2016-04-11T19:41:10Z")
I was confronted with the following last week: I was sitting in the cafeteria at lunch mostly minding my own business, but sitting with my usual group. One woman was going on about being upset because her daughter’s school was changing from different color graduation gowns for boys and girls to one color for everyone. And I can sort of see her point, although you’ll never truly sell me on any argument with, “but it’s tradition!” Anyway, another older lady sitting with us started going on about political correctness how “they’re taking away our rights,” and she said, “I don’t care. I’m going to say Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday all I want.” So, I’m sitting there biting my tongue, eating my lunch, surfing the Dope, but the immediate thought that enters my head is - who the hell do you think is preventing you from saying Merry Christmas to anybody? But I was interrupted from finishing that thought because … Happy Birthday? What the fuck? Is there a more PC inclusive nomenclature for “Happy Birthday” that I’ve not been made aware of? Are there legions of anti-birthday celebrators picketing Hallmark or something? I just ate my hot dog and kept it to myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124/56 "2016-04-12T18:27:41Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I like this. Can we get one here in the States? This is information about the (Province of )[Ontario Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act](http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/pssd_info.html). Similar ones exist in other Provinces and also Federally. I believe some form of this exists in the USA, because of the attention brought that the highest paid public employees in some states are University football coaches. I am not sure what you would call it though, some googling did not help me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/co-workers-who-discuss-politics-on-the-job/750124.md?page=2)