How much is too much?

May 19, 2005 11:16 AM

I work in an office where one of our managers is very overtly political. Slogans, "[opposite party] go home!," pictures of Dear Leader, and other partisan paraphanalia are par for the course with this person. It's in email signatures and publicly visible in other areas of our department. Is this excessive or am I just over-sensitive?

I've thought about it, and it would bother me just as much if this person represented my views/affiliations and was behaving in this manner. I find it inappropriate in its overt display and because I think that as a manager, this person should not be so overtly partisan simply for the sake of not alienating direct-reports. On top of that, I'm not entirely sure what to do about it if I choose to do anything. It's not that other people's politics aren't known here; it's just that this particular person is definetly confrontational about it in contrast to other managers. In other words, I know what my other manager thinks about things, but she isn't in-your-face about political stuff. Her counterpart, on the other hand, is. And it feels problematic to me.

posted by anonymous to work & money (48 comments total)

It's totally out of line and I'm surprised that s/he hasn't been called on it by his own superiors. One of the things about a job is that you are forced to spend time with people that normally you probably would never have anything to do with (for instance hard-core Republicans, if you are of another political leaning) for this reason it is so important to 'blandify' an office environment, it's the only way that people can stand coming into work every day.

This 'blandification' is also the reason why I decided a long time ago never to work in that type of environment ever again. It's necessary, but awful. Even more awful is having to put up with a co-worker who is trying to convert you to Jesus every day or who shoves his/her political beliefs down your throat.

You are very justified in being annoyed.
posted by sic at 11:22 AM on May 19, 2005

well you're stuck in a kind of paradox, if i infer the politics correctly. presumably supporters of a "left wing" party would support free speech, while supporters of a "right wing" party would agree with the manager. so it's tricky to see how anyone could object...
posted by andrew cooke at 11:22 AM on May 19, 2005

It's excessive. Start waving communist manifesto around and plaster pictures of chairman mao all over. Hey, if he can do it, so can you.
posted by damnitkage at 11:23 AM on May 19, 2005

hmm, that seems to me that this person is a bad manager. By definition a manager is supposed to wrangle the troops and be available to all. I would be annoyed if my manager was constantly talking about PETA and spaying and neutering pets or chanting Nader! at every opportunity.

It's alienating and goes against the ideals that management is designed for. I'd say maybe talk to another manager that is horizontal to yours or maybe go above their head to speak with the person that manages them. Tell them how it alienates half the team and looks bad for the company on all their emails.
posted by mathowie at 11:33 AM on May 19, 2005

In their emails?? Wow. That is OVER THE TOP. Have you brought this up with your other manager? What does she think? Perhaps you could enlist her support to appeal to the politicomanager's manager so that a quiet word might be had in their ear. It smacks of premediated intimidation and improper use of work facilities. Our political views can be made known but it crosses a line when it's overtly foisted on others in the workplace, irrespective of the political persuasion.
posted by peacay at 11:33 AM on May 19, 2005

It has nothing to do with "free speech". This kind of behavior is inappropriate in the workplace, regardless of the politics expressed. It's egregiously unprofessional.

Since it's not your manager who's behaving inappropriately, the stakes seem to be not quite as high as they could be. Depending on exactly how your office politics work, you might talk to your manager about it, or you might bring it to HR. That's for you to judge, though.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:34 AM on May 19, 2005

no, you're not being over sensitive. I'd bring it to their attention, and failing that mention it to their superior.

Or do that exact same thing back to them. People don't like to hang out in their own crap if you get my meaning.
posted by jackofsaxons at 11:36 AM on May 19, 2005

Alternatively, set up a hotmail account and express your views directly to HR, a higher manager +/- the local paper (from outside the office).
posted by peacay at 11:45 AM on May 19, 2005

The best response (from a pragmatic point of view) will, sadly, depend somewhat on the political views of other management in your organization. If they all feel the same way as this guy, you're kind of out of luck.

You are, of course, absolutely right to be annoyed by this sort of behavior. Things that are of a personal nature (notably politics and religion) have no place or business in a place of business. But (and I'm sure you know this) people who don't understand why such a thing is wrong are notoriously difficult to reason with. They're either purposefully picking a fight or they're clueless, so doing the same thing back to them is usually wasted effort.

Does your company have a suggestion box? Otherwise, you might want to consider an anonymous note to the manager's superior(s). Cowardly, I know, but at least it won't get you fired.
posted by anapestic at 11:45 AM on May 19, 2005

Alienating and unprofessional, I agree. It is bad business as it distracts the workers and has the potential to upset some customers. A little rah rah around election time is one thing, but continuing the parade afterwards is too much.
posted by caddis at 11:46 AM on May 19, 2005

Your are correct. This is out of line, professionally speaking. The most egregious of trespasses is, of course, the e-mail signature file. If that manager communicates with customers, vendors, or anyone outside of the organization, his/her political message appears to have the approval of the organization. Tactfully discuss it with a superior, or someone at the manager's level, depending upon your level of comfort. Frame the issue as a matter of professionalism, as you have above, rather than using partisan concerns.

Is this bowdlerizing the workplace? Yep. It's civility and it's how work gets done.
posted by Verdant at 11:55 AM on May 19, 2005

The problem (as I see it) in the workplace, is you now have an enemy, based on your complaint.

Your manager doesn't care - he's already possibly ingratiated himself with his boss...and if he's a good superversior will let your boss run his group the way he wants.

Getting a client to complain (or an outsider) is often more effective....without exposing yourself.

For me, it's the difference between what is right and keeping your job.
posted by filmgeek at 11:59 AM on May 19, 2005

You're not overly sensitive. Any sort of overt politicking like this in a business setting is inappropriate. Unless, of course, you work for said politician or political party.

Discuss it with your manager, the offender's manager and/or HR - one at a time, in that order (provided you don't get satisfaction from the previous person).
posted by deborah at 12:08 PM on May 19, 2005

Maybe you should have thought about this before you took the job at the White House.

Seriously, your boss is out of line. Apart from the unfortunate office politics of the situation, his behavior could be construed as "lobbying" to contribute to this candidate, even if donations aren't explicitly solicited. This would amount to an illegal compaign donation on the part of the company. (However, I'm not a lawyer, I could be talking out my ass.)

If you complain, document it, and if things don't get better, take your beef to the FEC (Federal Election Commission).
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 12:11 PM on May 19, 2005

[opposite party] go home!

I would suggest that you simply stop coming into work and when your boss calls to find out where you are, tell him you sincerely thought that, since he is known for his generosity, this was an offer of time off (with pay, naturally) for members of [opposite party]. Or else that you thought you had been fired, since you are a member of [opposite party] and had been clearly told to "go home," and that you spent the morning consulting with an attorney for the wrongful termination suit you will be bringing.

Maybe not. But... this guy doesn't deserve to be in charge of anything.
posted by kindall at 12:12 PM on May 19, 2005

FWIW, back around election time I was asked to provide my professional opinion on this issue -- in the exact opposite context (i.e., an avid Kerry/Edwards supporter). My company ended up communicating that employees could post small, tasteful campaign signs. We felt this struck the proper balance between political expression and an appropriate work environment.
posted by pardonyou? at 12:34 PM on May 19, 2005

With this many people agreeing with you that it seems EXTREMELY unprofessional I would just send your manager or their manager a link to this question here at AskMeFi. They might not realize how unprofession it is.

P.S. Myself, I think it is extremely unprofessional and regardless of your political beliefs would seem to create a toxic work environment.
posted by pwb503 at 12:40 PM on May 19, 2005

"[opposite party] go home!," slogans on the wall constitute discrimination based on political beliefs. Someone needs to bust this fool.
posted by scarabic at 12:43 PM on May 19, 2005

I've experienced the same thing in several workplaces from both ends of the political spectrum. I've learned that the best way to deal with it is to ignore it. Sad, but true.

Talking to someone, especially someone in a power position about something that they clearly identify so closely identify with is not likely to result in a positive response. S/he will get defensive no matter how tactfully you approach them. You may very well alienate yourself. If this behavior is recent a recent phenomena, it is likely that it will eventually stop when someone higher up catches wind of it. I would sit back for awhile and see how it plays out.

If you feel that you absolutely cannot tolerate this behavior, then you may want to consider looking for a new position. It's difficult to change a coporate culture.
posted by Juicylicious at 12:58 PM on May 19, 2005

If by "publicly visible" you mean it's visible to customers, you could tell one or other of the managers you've heard complaints from them.
posted by cillit bang at 1:15 PM on May 19, 2005

Your company probably has a policy on acceptable use of e-mail, personal expression, etc. You might want to check that, and you'll probably find the bushophile boss to be in violation.

You could then go to your HR person and say "hypothetically speaking, if I know of an employee in violation of this policy, what should I do?" This really is an HR problem; it should be in their bailiwick. It also might be a problem for the EEOC or some gov't agency, but elevating it to that level would be a big step--I'd exhaust other options first unless you're really bloody vindictive.

I do like Kindall's solution.
posted by adamrice at 1:29 PM on May 19, 2005

Juicylicious writes "If you feel that you absolutely cannot tolerate this behavior, then you may want to consider looking for a new position. It's difficult to change a coporate culture."

Forgive me Jucylicious but I think this is horrible advice. Such a situation can come to this end eventually, but telling someone to just tolerate workplace discrimination is ridiculous. We're past that, nowadays, at least we should be.

Would you give the same advice to someone experiencing racism or sexism in the workplace? Just ignore it or find another job?

God I hope not.
posted by scarabic at 1:30 PM on May 19, 2005

An old boss used to listen to Rush Limbaugh in the office. I could swear that there's some OSHA regulation against that.
posted by adampsyche at 1:36 PM on May 19, 2005

It also might be a problem for the EEOC or some gov't agency

No, it would not.
posted by pardonyou? at 1:38 PM on May 19, 2005

In contrast to just about everyone else here, I think you are being over-sensitive.
It's a few signs and an email signature? So long as your manager isn't requiring people to learn the Green party handshake, I honestly don't see this as a big deal. More annoying is that guy in the office who insists on turning every discussion into a political discussion. Man, I hate that guy.

But then, since I live in a place where my politics are an obvious minority, maybe I've just become inured to situations like you describe.
posted by madajb at 2:18 PM on May 19, 2005

Would you give the same advice to someone experiencing racism or sexism in the workplace?

so is being a republican equivalent to being racist or sexist now?
posted by andrew cooke at 2:19 PM on May 19, 2005

I had to work with these two dicks who would listen to Bill O'Reilly simultaneously. It was so loud that I couldn't hear Tavis Smiley through my headphones. I simply talked to HR and they told the culprits (without mentioning my name) that soft music is acceptable but opinionated talk programs are not. Do you have an HR department?
posted by crapulent at 2:33 PM on May 19, 2005

so is being a republican equivalent to being racist or sexist now?

He didn't say that. I think the point was that if you're in a situation made uncomfortable by unprofessional behavior, you can reasonably complain.

Which may or may not be true. Again, it depends on a lot of things. If you're in the middle of the Bible belt, complaining is only going to make your position there untenable. If it's a more politically diverse corporate culture, you're more likely to get somewhere with complaints.

That is also, sadly, true with cases of harassment. Sometimes the most practical solution is to find a less noxious place to work.
posted by anapestic at 2:36 PM on May 19, 2005

It does sound pretty out of line from a business standpoint, and I can't imagine the company "use of Internet" policy which would not be violated by having a controversial political slogan in one's .sig line.

However, as you describe it, and assuming you work in a private, for-profit workplace, nothing that this manager is doing is illegal.

If he were trying to compel you to volunteer your time or contribute to a candidate or cause of his choice, that might be deemed to be a violation of campaign finance laws, although the standards on this are very loose. (Just ask anyone who's been "invited" to contribute to the corporate PAC how free they feel to say "no.")

One issue which is almost entirely unaddressed in the case law is whether one can immunize as political speech which might otherwise be deemed to create a hostile environment for a protected class. I can imagine that a sufficiently vociferous opposition to affirmative action or gay rights decrees might make someone who benefits from them feel pretty darn uncomfortable.
posted by MattD at 2:45 PM on May 19, 2005

you're right. i guess i'm just depressed that people think it's "unprofessional" to express an opinion about politics.

you might think that if freedom of speech was going to protect anything, it would be political expression (please, don't bother explaining to me that "this is work" - i already know how keen you all are to toady down to your bosses and appear as nothing more than apolitical wage bunnies ready to be exploited every which way before sunday).

people here argue politics 'til it drives me up the wall. yet when someone else does it, it's suddenly opression. i agree that a boss could be abusing their power, but, frankly, i suspect most posters here have double standards. it seems to be the new american way to do whatever you can to score a point against "the other side".

what happened to the country that was so proud of its freedoms and so tolerant of individuality?
posted by andrew cooke at 2:46 PM on May 19, 2005

I worked at a predominantly liberal non-profit where after the Supreme Court decided the electoral status of FL in the first election of W the president posted that one fake time cover with the picture of Bush and the caption "we are fucked."

Even though I basically agreed with the sentiment (and feel like it has come true in spades) and voted against Bush twice, I really thought this was wrong and complained about it but with little impact. Just to show, this is not a partisan issue and you don't have to disagree with someone's political sentiments to be offended by their inappropriate expression of them.
posted by nanojath at 2:49 PM on May 19, 2005

andrew cooke, I don't think anyone is stating that it is unprofessional to express an opinion about politics. It is not a double standard to believe that the content and tone of one's free expression should be sensitive to the context of that expression. What the poster describes sounds like excessive and antagonistic expression and it seems utterly obvious to me that the majority here are correct in their opinion that this is not appropriate for the workplace, particularly for a manager. Part of a manager's job responsibilities is to maintain a polite and respectful working environment, and the described manager is failing at this and therefor his conduct is unprofessional. Maybe you have been so lucky to find yourself in a working environment where it is unecessary to curb your expression in order to be respectful of other individuals. Most people work in an environment where we have to be more circumspect. So we save our unprofessional outbursts for the internet, you self-righteous, judgemental Limey-expatriate prick.
posted by nanojath at 3:06 PM on May 19, 2005 [1 favorite]

well, i think it's unprofessional to have any signature on your email except your name, rank and telephone number, including inspirational quotes from plato, martin luther king, or peanuts cartoons. i think thatis especially true for political messages, but it's not your responsibility to police your manager's use of company email.

as for the strident politics, most people in my office are rabidly liberal and wildly political and i find the constant assumption that a) i agree; b) i'm interested in talking about it bordering on hostile most days. but that's life; that's the workplace. i've politely made it clear to most people in the office that i'm not interested in discussing politics with them. they've been largely respectful. now, i just have to deal with the strident political commentary (cartoons, posters &c) stuck to everyone's office door and the ocassional awkward silence at happy hour when i don't join in the chant.

aside from having a "boss, please don't discuss politics with me" conversation, i think you just have to suck it up unless and until you find yourself not permitted to do your job because you don't agree with your boss' politics.

put me in the "you're being too sensitive" camp.
posted by crush-onastick at 3:15 PM on May 19, 2005

I have worked in an environment like this, without the email signature thankfully but pretty much everything else. I tried to keep quiet about it at first, but I found that once I spoke up and said it bothered me they pretty much stopped doing it around me. Of course, they made a big deal about how sensitive they were being towards my (minority) beliefs but I could deal with that.

In college I worked at a place where the boss asked us all to sign a petition to get his buddy on the ballot and contribute to his campaign. That really crossed the line.
posted by cali at 3:40 PM on May 19, 2005

Nice long slow curve ball, nanojath. (Note to andrew cooke: That's from baseball, a game played here in the colonies )
posted by Cranberry at 3:43 PM on May 19, 2005

Scarabic - be exposed to someone's politics that may or may not be inline with your own is not discrimination. Next time you want to call me out, do it in MeTa. Stop shitting in AskMe.
posted by Juicylicious at 4:11 PM on May 19, 2005

IANAL, but document, document, document.

Keep track of all politically-related behavior of the manager for one month. Keep track of any behavior of the manager that could be construed as hindering your ability to do your job or advance your career in the company. If you know of others who are similarly offended, have them do the same.

After that month, go to your manager and describe the situation. State that you have documentation and that X other employees are willing to verify your claims. The legal threat of a class action harassment suit should create nearly instantaneous action by upper management.

The key point is that the actions are inappropriate to the workplace, especially if an environment exists in which polite requests to tone down the speech (of whatever form) are ignored and lead to retribution. It doesn't matter if it's pornographic calendars or political posters.
posted by Araucaria at 4:20 PM on May 19, 2005

You don't bring politics to work.
posted by graventy at 7:52 PM on May 19, 2005

Spraypaint a big ol' Libertarian support logo on his parking spot. If you really want to jerk his chain, a bumpersticker, too. don'tbeevil
posted by five fresh fish at 8:16 PM on May 19, 2005

This issue is very similar to the issue of religion in the workplace. A little is okay, but building a shrine, whether to God or to a political party, is not. Not necessarily because people are offended, but because it is disruptive and shows a mindset of someone who does not truly have his mind on his work.

Andrew Cooke said "i guess i'm just depressed that people think it's 'unprofessional' to express an opinion about politics," but disregarded the fact that what was described went far beyond simply expressing an opinion.
posted by yclipse at 8:26 PM on May 19, 2005

[opposite party] go home!

Is that supposed to be funny? If here is already home, where exactly is it you want me to go?

Would it be acceptable if it said "Irish go home?" or "Jews go home?" Why exactly is it that you'd want to segregate someone based on their political affiliation?

These, and many more, would be the questions I'd be asking the person with a sign like that. And if not him directly, then the boss of his that lets him get away with it.
posted by furtive at 8:40 PM on May 19, 2005

furtive, on metafilter you are not allowed to compare anything to anything else unless you are prepared to argue that the two things are exactly equivalent. 'Cause that's what you're going to get accused of.
posted by nanojath at 9:35 PM on May 19, 2005

you are not allowed to compare anything to anything else unless you are prepared to argue that the two things are exactly equivalent.

Surely you jest. What would be the point of comparing things if they were exactly equivalent? And besides, I am prepared to to argue it.

I'm assume you mean that democrat/republican go home! does not equate to the same as Irish go home! or Jews go home! And yet one can change religious beliefs as easily as political beliefs. One can feel a kinship to a country of origin just as equally as to a political affiliation. Gypsies just like democrats can be identified by their cultural artifacts and beliefs. So where's the difference?

XXXX go home! is a statement of discrimination, plain and simple. It is meant to rally those who aren't XXXX, and to make those who are XXXX feel uncomfortable and unwanted, and they feel that way as soon as they read the sign, that's how effective it is. And that's why it shouldn't be tolerated.
posted by furtive at 9:58 PM on May 19, 2005

I was being ironic, furtive. Look up the comments a bit and you'll see the very charge being made ("so is being a republican equivalent to being racist or sexist now?")... It's a kind of argument I've been seeing rather a bit of around here lately and I was just pointing that out. If you read my prior comments you'll see I agree with you.

Damn, I begin to wonder how much of what I think is obviously stated with an ironic or rhetorical intention is being taken literally. The mind reels.
posted by nanojath at 10:32 PM on May 19, 2005

people here argue politics 'til it drives me up the wall. yet when someone else does it, it's suddenly opression. i agree that a boss could be abusing their power, but, frankly, i suspect most posters here have double standards. it seems to be the new american way to do whatever you can to score a point against "the other side".

Andrew, in the very first post of this thread, I tried to explain the difference between Metafilter and an office job. We come here voluntarily, as entertainment (and we simply must accept that for many people talking politics is passionate entertainment -and I include myself in that group). However, in a job, people are generally obliged to go, unless they have other job options, and so it is important to create a bland atmosphere that avoids confrontation. Personally, I hate bland atmospheres. But, as I said earlier, I DESPISE being FORCED to hear opinions that I can't stand or forced to spend time with and work productively with people who do not act appropriately. If this happens in Metafilter, I simply switch the computer off. If it happens at a job that I need to pay my bills, well, I'm shit out of luck - I just have to be miserable every day until I (hopefully) find another job.

I understand your point, believe me, but the workplace is different than the rest of the world and it needs a special set of considerations.
posted by sic at 12:44 AM on May 20, 2005

This should not be tolerated. It's hard to believe that any manager with a [group] go home! sign in their office is going to give fair and unbiased reviews and opportunities to those who are member of [group].

If you feel that this has hindered, or may hinder your career, I'd consult a lawyer.
posted by mosch at 1:19 AM on May 20, 2005

It's an HR issue. This is what HR is for. Your complaint should be kept confidential and someone from HR should handle it.

If you don't have an HR department, ask your manager if they would say something to the other manager, making clear that it's not the nature of the views, it's the overenthusiastic and antagonistic bits that bother you. It's appropriate to ask someone on the same level as this person to do the talking...it's part of the responsibility you take on when take on a supervisory position.

If these options are for whatever reason not possible, you could discuss it directly with the person. Obviously in as formal a manner possible, and obviously privately. I would be loathe to do this, but it is an option.

I think it's worth a try to make an attempt to resolve this. This person may be so wrapped up that they didn't realize that they were bothering anyone, and may be willing to remove some of the most egregiously annoying stuff.
posted by desuetude at 6:22 AM on May 20, 2005

I would have no more tolerance for someone with my own politics doing this. It would hurt me less, though, so I might be less motivated to do something about it. But it would be just as wrong.

That said, I don't think it's wrong to express your politics, just to champion them or denigrate those of others. The picture of GWB on the wall, for example, is fine. I used to have a postcard of him up next to my desk as well. Except mine said "OBEY MORON."

(thx sqrl)
posted by scarabic at 8:51 AM on May 20, 2005