EsmeraldaX
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2003
- Messages
- 14,910
A political workplace...
I consider myself to be a moderate/conservative. I work for a company that is comprised mostly of fanatical left wingers. I am not exaggerating.
Now, I have no problem with people's different views. However, I and a number of other people in the political minority feel very uncomfortable here because of it. There is a definite attitude of liberalism at my job. And if you don't agree with them, you are treated as a second class employee.
I know I chose to work in this profession and I chose to work in this office. But I really don't feel that politics should even be discussed at work. Is that wrong?
I'm bringing this up because, while I do respect everyone's opinion, we have one very extreme gentleman in my department who IMO, goes beyond having a different opinion to the point where he is downright offensive (He is an anti-Semite who blames Israel for virtually all of the worlds problems). I am very offended by that statement. It's one he has stated over and over again, and no one ever questions him. When he took 3 months leave to go to the Middle East to fight with the Palestinians, everyone in my dept. was supposed to pitch in money to buy him a gift to show our support. I refused and explained that I can not support a guy who is going to get involved in a conflict he has no business getting involved in, and who is not going there as a peacekeeper, but instead as a fighter with the Palestinians, I was treated like *I* was the one who was a "racist".
There have been other incidents as well (such as he is a vegan and has given me a hard time about eating meat at lunch). It's gotten to the point where I just sit back, shut up and take it when they are all yapping about how America is evil, Israelis are evil, we caused 9/11, Christianity is terrible, religious people are stupid etc. etc. (I am not Christian either, by the way, but it still makes me sick that these people are so judgmental of everyone who does not agree with them).
And then I think why should I be the one who has to sit back and take it? I was asked to remove an American flag from my desk because I was told it would offend the anti -war people and employees from other countries. I was told to remove a newspaper clipping of my good friend in Iraq in his uniform from my desk. I did fight that one and they allowed me to keep it up as long as I moved it out of public view.
My HR dept. is useless. Going to them, they will side with the others, or tell me to just ignore it. I REALLY do not want to quit. Grrrr. I guess I am just venting because it gets really annoying having to come in to work everyday and listen to people talk politics (they do this, literally , for about 4 hours each day off and on).
Politics & Religion, IMO should not be discussed at work (unless you are working on a political campaign or something where it's acceptable). A comment here and there , fine, but otherwise let it go and respect the fact that just because you are the majority at a company does not mean you are not offending and annoying your co-workers every day.
So what should I do? Like I said, human resources is pretty much useless.
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A DEBATE. I DID NOT POST THIS ON THE DB BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BECOME A POLITICAL DEBATE. THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT POLITICS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKPLACE.
Thank you
I consider myself to be a moderate/conservative. I work for a company that is comprised mostly of fanatical left wingers. I am not exaggerating.
Now, I have no problem with people's different views. However, I and a number of other people in the political minority feel very uncomfortable here because of it. There is a definite attitude of liberalism at my job. And if you don't agree with them, you are treated as a second class employee.
I know I chose to work in this profession and I chose to work in this office. But I really don't feel that politics should even be discussed at work. Is that wrong?
I'm bringing this up because, while I do respect everyone's opinion, we have one very extreme gentleman in my department who IMO, goes beyond having a different opinion to the point where he is downright offensive (He is an anti-Semite who blames Israel for virtually all of the worlds problems). I am very offended by that statement. It's one he has stated over and over again, and no one ever questions him. When he took 3 months leave to go to the Middle East to fight with the Palestinians, everyone in my dept. was supposed to pitch in money to buy him a gift to show our support. I refused and explained that I can not support a guy who is going to get involved in a conflict he has no business getting involved in, and who is not going there as a peacekeeper, but instead as a fighter with the Palestinians, I was treated like *I* was the one who was a "racist".
There have been other incidents as well (such as he is a vegan and has given me a hard time about eating meat at lunch). It's gotten to the point where I just sit back, shut up and take it when they are all yapping about how America is evil, Israelis are evil, we caused 9/11, Christianity is terrible, religious people are stupid etc. etc. (I am not Christian either, by the way, but it still makes me sick that these people are so judgmental of everyone who does not agree with them).
And then I think why should I be the one who has to sit back and take it? I was asked to remove an American flag from my desk because I was told it would offend the anti -war people and employees from other countries. I was told to remove a newspaper clipping of my good friend in Iraq in his uniform from my desk. I did fight that one and they allowed me to keep it up as long as I moved it out of public view.
My HR dept. is useless. Going to them, they will side with the others, or tell me to just ignore it. I REALLY do not want to quit. Grrrr. I guess I am just venting because it gets really annoying having to come in to work everyday and listen to people talk politics (they do this, literally , for about 4 hours each day off and on).
Politics & Religion, IMO should not be discussed at work (unless you are working on a political campaign or something where it's acceptable). A comment here and there , fine, but otherwise let it go and respect the fact that just because you are the majority at a company does not mean you are not offending and annoying your co-workers every day.
So what should I do? Like I said, human resources is pretty much useless.
PLEASE DO NOT TURN THIS INTO A DEBATE. I DID NOT POST THIS ON THE DB BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BECOME A POLITICAL DEBATE. THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT POLITICS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKPLACE.
Thank you
Actually, at my first paper, politics were never discussed. At the second, we discussed some issues, but never really argued - everyone was understanding. (Even the Democrats! 
) I don't think I could work with a guy like that, though.
