Reader

In a few weeks, the United Kingdom will vote on who gets to be in charge for the next 4-5 years. (And several other countries are planning elections soon)

That got me thinking about having political conversations at work.

Should we ban discussions of politics at work?

Or should there be guidelines around these type of discussion?

When I worked for an American consulting firm, there was an unwritten rule to NOT talk about political affiliations. As a curious South African, I asked lots of questions about the different American parties.

I realise I unconsciously always avoided the direct “What party do you vote for?” question.

What does a ban on political discourse even look like?

Well, it’s been tried at two tech firms.

When Basecamp banned political discussions, a bunch of employees resigned. Basecamp Blowup: Banning Politics at Work Prompts Over a Dozen Employees to Quit​
Coinbase had a similar experience.

I’m in the camp that says let people talk about politics at the office. If we invite people to bring their ‘full selves’ to work, then we invite in personal opinions about politics.

This will undoubtedly lead to difficult conversations and sticky situations.

And here lies the invitation and challenge for all of us:

Can we increase our capacity for difficult conversations?

We all need more skills in emotional regulation and great listening. And with those skills will come a capacity to have the harder conversations.

Do you think we should limit or ban discussions of politics at work? (scroll back up to the top of the email to cast your vote)

I'm really curious to hear!

Catherine