# 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:** 2
**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, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/21 "2019-02-07T17:23:56Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > 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 ☹ I guess you’re right…but it doesn’t make it easier to work in this environment, where the official policy is “Do No Bring Up Politics In The Workplace”, but the unofficial policy is “No Politics Other Than Ours”. ---
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/22 "2019-02-07T17:25:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I guess you’re right…but it doesn’t make it easier to work in this environment… There is a remedy to this, available to you. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/23 "2019-02-07T17:25:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do you think it is possible for a work environment to be too politically toxic? Yes, but you aren’t in such. Is the graffiti targeted at you? Are you being singled out or abused in any way? No? Then I guess this is only about you because you want it to be about you. If crap written in the dirt on the backs of trucks that you don’t even drive distresses you this much, then find a new job. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/24 "2019-02-07T17:26:33Z")
Can you point out the real danger of potential road rage incidents? Surely the company doesn’t want you on workers compensation because of an argument about politics. ---
**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, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/25 "2019-02-07T17:28:44Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Can you point out the real danger of potential road rage incidents? Surely the company doesn’t want you on workers compensation because of an argument about politics. You’re not suggesting some Democrats might resort to violence over political speech they disagree with, are you? Perish the thought! ---
**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, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/26 "2019-02-07T17:29:20Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > “too politically toxic” for what? for legal recourse? No, probably not (although IANAL). For me to work there? Abso-frickin-lutely! Previously you said > [@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. Which certainly sounded like I should just shut up about it. How bad would it have to be for you to say “I can’t just suck it up any more-I’m leaving”? ---
**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, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/27 "2019-02-07T17:30:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > You’re not suggesting some Democrats might resort to violence over political speech they disagree with, are you? Perish the thought! More likely they just flip off he driver, and being a right winger, he reacts violently. ---
**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, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/28 "2019-02-07T17:31:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Previously you said Which certainly sounded like I should just shut up about it. How bad would it have to be for you to say “I can’t just suck it up any more-I’m leaving”? Significantly more severe than “Build the wall” scribbled in some dust. For example, if my company owner decided that we’re going to go all-in to support Kamala Harris in 2020, and my job then required me to spend 4 hours each day fulfilling my regular duties and 4 hours each day phone-banking for Harris, I’d quit. ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/29 "2019-02-07T17:33:27Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > There is a remedy to this, available to you. Are you hiring? I am 62 years old with a family to support, so it’s a little late in the game to start at the bottom rung wage-wise. Have you got any _practical_ solutions? ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/30 "2019-02-07T17:33:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > More likely they just flip off he driver, and being a right winger, he reacts violently. Semi drivers get flipped off all the time, almost never over the political slogans scrawled in their dust on their trailers. If the truck driver is going to react violently to getting flipped off, he’s probably not truck-driver material, regardless of his political inclinations. ---
**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, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/31 "2019-02-07T17:37:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Significantly more severe than “Build the wall” scribbled in some dust. > > For example, if my company owner decided that we’re going to go all-in to support Kamala Harris in 2020, and my job then required me to spend 4 hours each day fulfilling my regular duties and 4 hours each day phone-banking for Harris, I’d quit. 1. Did you forget the other message-“Democrats are Communists”, or was it a deliberate downplaying of the situation? 2. Yeah, it would be wrong for your company to make you work for a political party…and I’m pretty sure it would also be illegal. It’s nice to know that your bar is set at “I would leave if my company made me do something that would never happen in real life” :rolleyes: ---
**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, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/32 "2019-02-07T17:37:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you hiring? … Me? No, I’m not a job creator (:(). > [@Czarcasm](#): > > … Have you got any _practical_ solutions? The simplest solution, and the one likely to cause the least disruption in your and your family’s life, is basically suck it up and don’t let such a trivial thing concern you so much. People have different political views than you. They will sometimes express those. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/33 "2019-02-07T17:38:37Z")
You can’t organize such a thing here, but they seem ripe for some good old fashioned social media trolling. Trash their yelp reviews, leave bad reviews on their Google page, get your friends and family to join in the fun! ---
**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, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/34 "2019-02-07T17:41:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1. Did you forget the other message-“Democrats are Communists”, or was it a deliberate downplaying of the situation? … It’s hard to downplay such a trivial situation further, but I suppose you would see it that way. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > …2. Yeah, it would be wrong for your company to make you work for a political party…and I’m pretty sure it would also be illegal. It’s nice to know that your bar is set at “I would leave if my company made me do something that would never happen in real life” :rolleyes: Again, IANAL, but how is that illegal? I’m in an at-will employment state. If my employer decides he wants us donating our time to a political campaign … what’s illegal about that? If I worked at an advertising company, and the Harris 2020 campaign hired us to cut some commercials for them, and I got put on the project, would that be illegal? FWIW, that was offered as one example, but certainly not the only situation, that would cause me to quit my job. The point I was trying to get across to you is that it would have to be a whole lot more significant for me to care enough to quit, or really do much of anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/35 "2019-02-07T17:42:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you hiring? I am 62 years old with a family to support, so it’s a little late in the game to start at the bottom rung wage-wise. Have you got any _practical_ solutions? Deal with it or quit. These are both practical solutions. Or are you looking for help on forcing the company to handle The Dirt Scribble Issue the way you want it handled? Let’s get some basic info first: 1. How are the scribbles harming you? 2. What would make you whole? ---
**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, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/36 "2019-02-07T17:43:19Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > You can’t organize such a thing here, but they seem ripe for some good old fashioned social media trolling. Trash their yelp reviews, leave bad reviews on their Google page, get your friends and family to join in the fun! Yelp reviews for a trucking company? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/37 "2019-02-07T17:45:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 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. I seem to recall that you started a thread some time ago about your work being a political quagmire? Sorry that things haven’t improved for you. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/38 "2019-02-07T17:46:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > You can’t organize such a thing here, but they seem ripe for some good old fashioned social media trolling. Trash their yelp reviews, leave bad reviews on their Google page, get your friends and family to join in the fun! Sweet idea! Then when the company is damaged enough to lay people off or even close up shop, he can job hunt proudly knowing he is unemployed for Great Justice! What is the company? I will start trashing them today! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/39 "2019-02-07T17:49:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yelp reviews for a trucking company? :rolleyes: [https://www.yelp.com/biz/all-american-trucking-and-transport-inc-burlingame](https://www.yelp.com/biz/all-american-trucking-and-transport-inc-burlingame) > **[Patriot Auto Transport - Los Angeles, CA](https://www.yelp.com/biz/patriot-auto-transport-los-angeles-2)** > > Specialties: Hello Shippers, > > I am the owner of Patriot Auto Transport (please do not confuse us with any other companies in the industry that feature "Patriot" within their name or url as we have no affiliation with them). > > If you are intending to... > **[All Freight Trucking - Riverside, CA](https://www.yelp.com/biz/all-freight-trucking-riverside)** > > Specialties: All Freight Trucking, serving all of Southern California. Established in 2002. Please call for rates and service area. [https://www.yelp.com/biz/nationwide-united-auto-transport-los-angeles](https://www.yelp.com/biz/nationwide-united-auto-transport-los-angeles) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125/40 "2019-02-07T17:50:19Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Sweet idea! Then when the company is damaged enough to lay people off or even close up shop, he can job hunt proudly knowing he is unemployed for Great Justice! What is the company? I will start trashing them today! That’s right! Because the owner will proudly go bankrupt because he has a right to be an ass to over half the country and will make _zero_ changes to his behavior, even if faced with financial ruin. Why, he can be the next Kim Davis! AMERICA! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-hostile-work-environment-or-over-sensitivity/829125.md?page=3)