Workplace

This year’s presidential election has stirred up lots of emotions, said Kevin Walker in the Tampa Tribune. Keeping politics completely out of office conversation can be difficult, but when emotions run high, polite discourse can quickly turn into a full-blown argument. “When it comes to talking politics in the office,” the safest advice is: Don’t. Should you get dragged into the debate, be polite and try to make positive statements about your candidate. Never assume you know where co-workers stand—and don’t ask. “You might as well ask how much money they make.”

That advice is “so last election,” said Lisa Belkin in The New York Times. Bosses and workers alike seem to have fewer qualms these days about blasting co-workers with political propaganda or getting into heated debates. In fact, a survey by a Menlo Park, Calif., staffing agency found that 67 percent of the 522 workers polled saw no problem with showing their colors at work. Still, be vigilant. “Crossing the line between healthy debate and rancor is deceptively easy in the workplace.” Well-intended political discourse can easily spill into partisan mudslinging.

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