# Politically hostile work environment, or over-sensitivity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125 "2019-02-07T16:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/1 "2019-02-07T16:05:41Z")
I work at a mid-sized trucking firm(not the one where the drivers are forced to haul trailers that have “It’s a Child, Not a Choice” printed on the back), and I already know better than to talk about my political beliefs here…but for the last few months the vast majority of the trailers we have had two things written in the dirt on the back end: “Democrats Are Communists” and “Build The Wall”. It is written in letters large enough to be read easily as you pass them on the road, and there is no way for any employee in the yard not to see it. The trailers get washed occasionally, but as soon as there is enough accumulated dust/dirt the two phrases go right back on. I made a _very_ discrete inquiry as to whether there were any complaints, and was told that The Powers That Be see no harm being done, and that there have been no complaints from either other employees or from the public at large. Am I making too big a deal of this? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/2 "2019-02-07T16:13:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I work at a mid-sized trucking firm(not the one where the drivers are forced to haul trailers that have “It’s a Child, Not a Choice” printed on the back), and I already know better than to talk about my political beliefs here…but for the last few months the vast majority of the trailers we have had two things written in the dirt on the back end: “Democrats Are Communists” and “Build The Wall”. It is written in letters large enough to be read easily as you pass them on the road, and there is no way for any employee in the yard not to see it. The trailers get washed occasionally, but as soon as there is enough accumulated dust/dirt the two phrases go right back on. I made a _very_ discrete inquiry as to whether there were any complaints, and was told that The Powers That Be see no harm being done, and that there have been no complaints from either other employees or from the public at large. Am I making too big a deal of this? I don’t think so. I would not drive such a vehicle. Could you just use a push broom to ‘erase’ it before taking the truck out. IMHO, it makes the company look very very bad, and I would not do business with them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/3 "2019-02-07T16:15:41Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I don’t think so. I would not drive such a vehicle. > > Could you just use a push broom to ‘erase’ it before taking the truck out. IMHO, it makes the company look very very bad, and I would not do business with them. If I tried to do something like that I would be called on the carpet for going outside my job description, and the drivers hauling the things won’t do it because they believe the shit written on the back. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/4 "2019-02-07T16:39:42Z")
Next to “Democrats are Communists” add: “Republicans are Fascists. Choose.” Alternatively, just have the knowledge about who you’re working with. Sometimes just knowing is the best you can do with a situation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/5 "2019-02-07T16:45:45Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Next to “Democrats are Communists” add: “Republicans are Fascists. Choose.” > > Alternatively, just have the knowledge about who you’re working with. Sometimes just knowing is the best you can do with a situation. I’m already aware of the political situation here, and have been for quite a while. I guess I’m supposed to settle for being a “Good Democrat” and pretend that I agree with this partisan shit. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/6 "2019-02-07T16:47:33Z")
Can you orchestrate some “public complaints?” Or maybe some of the customers might be offended? Personally, I think it’s pretty obnoxious. Not my area of law, but I doubt you have any legal recourse. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/7 "2019-02-07T16:50:17Z")
According to them I am the only one to ever bring it up, so what is there to orchestrate? ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/8 "2019-02-07T16:58:09Z")
Just add “n’t” to are and move on with your life. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/9 "2019-02-07T16:59:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > According to them I am the only one to ever bring it up, so what is there to orchestrate? Contact some friends who don’t work there and are not associated with you as far as your employers know. Have them send in come complaints about obnoxious political slogans on dirty trucks. ETA: I’d be happy to send in a complaint myself. Just PM me who to send it to. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/10 "2019-02-07T17:04:39Z")
If the owners of the company don’t care, or endorse the message, you will have to put up with it. Or make a public issue of it and lose, or quit your job in protest. Or buy your own truck and put whatever you want on it. Someone is wrong on [del]the Internet[/del] the dirt on a truck. :eek: Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/11 "2019-02-07T17:05:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Contact some friends who don’t work there and are not associated with you as far as your employers know. Have them send in come complaints about obnoxious political slogans on dirty trucks. > > ETA: I’d be happy to send in a complaint myself. Just PM me who to send it to. I’m not one to lie to get what I want. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/12 "2019-02-07T17:05:12Z")
> [@Crybaby\_Boobie](#): > > Just add “n’t” to are and move on with your life. I like this. 🙂 You’re not being oversensitive, and this strikes me as a really bad thing to do from a public relations standpoint; but I don’t know what you can realistically do about it. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/13 "2019-02-07T17:07:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > … Am I making too big a deal of this? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/14 "2019-02-07T17:09:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > … Someone is wrong on [del]the Internet[/del] the dirt on a truck. :eek: > > Regards, > Shodan I don’t even think they’re all that wrong, but that’s probably a topic for another thread. The point is that people everywhere have to put up with annoying things other people say / write. That’s just life. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/15 "2019-02-07T17:12:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m not one to lie to get what I want. I get that. In that case, a rare instance where I agree with the Poster who posted #10 above. You could try again convincing the owners that this is probably bad for business even if no one is complaining. If nothing else, it emphasizes they’re driving dirty and dusty trucks. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/16 "2019-02-07T17:13:56Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t even think they’re all that wrong, but that’s probably a topic for another thread. The point is that people everywhere have to put up with annoying things other people say / write. That’s just life. Do you think it is possible for a work environment to be too politically toxic? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/17 "2019-02-07T17:16:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I get that. In that case, a rare instance where I agree with the Poster who posted #10 above. > > You could try again convincing the owners that this is probably bad for business even if no one is complaining. If nothing else, it emphasizes they’re driving dirty and dusty trucks. It is winter in Oregon-_Everybody’s_ trucks are dirty and/or dusty to some degree. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/18 "2019-02-07T17:19:58Z")
Man, I’m a Democrat and I’d be super uncomfortable if the company I worked for allowed something like “Republicans lie” on their public-facing property. Heck I’d be uncomfortable if someone posted it on the corkboard in the break room, even. I guess if you’ve reported it and no one cares, it is what it is ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/19 "2019-02-07T17:20:16Z")
Are the slogans coming from the employees, or random members of the public? Is this known? If you’d get in trouble for cleaning off all of the dirt, because it goes outside of your duties, then the drivers should also get in trouble for cleaning off some of the dirt. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/20 "2019-02-07T17:21:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do you think it is possible for a work environment to be too politically toxic? “too politically toxic” for what? for legal recourse? No, probably not (although IANAL). For me to work there? Abso-frickin-lutely! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125.md?page=2)