What do you do when this happens at work

[stepmommyof1]

I was having lunch with a friend the other day and she mentioned how annoyed she gets at something that happens at her job. I sympathized with her but since I don't have a job I could not really offer much to the conversation. So I wondered what she could have done. She said what bothers her is that the people she works with (not her co workers- I'm talking about clients) will go on about their political views to her and then wait for her to comment as if she should be agreeing with them. Whether she agrees or not, she is at her job and does not want to discuss things like that with clients. Plus, she said that when she really disagrees with what theyre saying, it is very awkward for her because she does NOT want to tell them her true opinion of the issue (since she is at work and doesn't want to argue with or alienate clients) but she also does not want to just nod and smile vaguely giving off the impression that she agrees with them (which is what she has been doing, since she didn't know what else to do). She was just kind of venting to me but I really didn't know what I could tell her because I've never been in that position, I don't have a job and if that happened to me I would probably say or do the wrong thing. Plus, I thought I don't know if there really is anything she can say to them that wouldn't alienate them or be rude, unless she pretends to agree with them, but that doesn't seem like a great option either.
It's her problem to deal with but I felt bad that I had no advice for her.
And it got me wondering what others do in that type of situation.

 

[cglaura]

I was having lunch with a friend the other day and she mentioned how annoyed she gets at something that happens at her job. I sympathized with her but since I don't have a job I could not really offer much to the conversation. So I wondered what she could have done. She said what bothers her is that the people she works with (not her co workers- I'm talking about clients) will go on about their political views to her and then wait for her to comment as if she should be agreeing with them. Whether she agrees or not, she is at her job and does not want to discuss things like that with clients. Plus, she said that when she really disagrees with what theyre saying, it is very awkward for her because she does NOT want to tell them her true opinion of the issue (since she is at work and doesn't want to argue with or alienate clients) but she also does not want to just nod and smile vaguely giving off the impression that she agrees with them (which is what she has been doing, since she didn't know what else to do). She was just kind of venting to me but I really didn't know what I could tell her because I've never been in that position, I don't have a job and if that happened to me I would probably say or do the wrong thing. Plus, I thought I don't know if there really is anything she can say to them that wouldn't alienate them or be rude, unless she pretends to agree with them, but that doesn't seem like a great option either.
It's her problem to deal with but I felt bad that I had no advice for her.
And it got me wondering what others do in that type of situation.

Well if you had to play along, then I would just keep the client talking with questions...

Oh, can you explain that?

Why do you feel that way about that?

Does your family feel the same way?

Did your parents have the same views?

But in a sincere way, not snarky. Just keep them talking without having to give any opinion until you can change the subject or are done.

But preferably, I'd say: I'm really not allowed to discuss personal things at work.

 

[Handbag Lady]

"Oh, I see we are on opposite ends of THAT issue. How about them Dodgers?/Nice shoes!/I love your blouse..."


This phrase has gotten me out of a lot of odd situations. I am a democrat and opinionated, but there is no room for any politics in the work place.

Change. The. Subject.

But, with humor. If not sports, then compliment them right away on their clothes.

 

[NMAmy]

Clients are a different matter than coworkers. I think it's best to continue as she has been--be noncommital and steer the conversation to other topics.

I work with Political Science professors so we have some pretty great discussions at work but we're respectful of each other's views. I know some die hard Republicans and Democrats that are great pals at work even though their views are total opposites.

I think it's easier to respectfully discuss your opinions with coworkers than with clients and customers.

 

[bballmom56]

I would remain non-committal with clients. I find I can just give an "mmmm" to whatever they say (more than I want to do, since that kind of implies agreement, but it's not worth it in that situation to start an argument) let them finish, then change the subject (which was always easy to do at my job).

 

[Jennasis]

This is a case where biting one's tongue, even if it means the other person now feels you agree with them, is appropriate.

You NEVER speak politics with clients. Ever.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I would change the subject. I think people that bring up politics at inappropriate times are generally trying to bait someone into some sort of debate. The work environment is neither the time nor place and pretty much everyone knows this.

 

[FireDancer]

This is a case where biting one's tongue, even if it means the other person now feels you agree with them, is appropriate.

You NEVER speak politics with clients. Ever.

Yep. Even if you agree with them 100% the only correct way to respond is "I don't talk about politics".

 

[ols386]

This is a case where biting one's tongue, even if it means the other person now feels you agree with them, is appropriate.

You NEVER speak politics with clients. Ever.

Exactly.

It's also unprofessional of the clients to bring up the topic of politics, but since they are the client, you bite your tongue.

 

[tlbwriter]

"Oh, I've sworn never to talk about three things at work: politics, religion, and <sports team, American Idol, whatever>."

 

[stepmommyof1]

Yeah that's kind of how I felt, there's nothing she can really do, she doesn't want to state her opinions to them but doesn't want to appear as if she is agreeing either, and I think what you guys said is good, to either change the subject or be noncommittal. Or even just state I'm sorry but I'm not allowed to discuss politics on the job.
Personally I think her clients are being terribly RUDE to bring up politics with her, I think it is rude to bring up something controversial and give your opinion on it when the other person doesn't have the option to disagree with you.. I think it's rude to make the person uncomfortable/wish they could speak up but they can't.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I agree with the advice to not discuss politics with clients. Unfortunately, I worked with two women who are slightly to the right of Ghengis Khan, one of whom is an active Tea Partyer. They constantly talk politics, engage in President-bashing, vilified Nancy Pelosi when she was SOTH. It was very difficult to continue to say "hmmm" and "is that right" and "I didn't know that" (actually, I did, and it made me gag). Fortunately, I no longer work with them. It was a shame they focused so much on politics as they were otherwise very nice ladies.

Queen Colleen

 

[Acklander]

I get that with clients a lot, especially around election times. As a socialist, I'm used to people not agreeing with me so learned years ago to say - yeah, it's a tough issue with a small shrug and let it go. Now, if I'm trying to kill time with a client and politics come up I'll usually say something like - how would you handle this if you were in charge? Or what do you think the challenges are going to be? and then just nod at their responses. I've actually learned quite a bit about clients by listening to their politics. It helps me understand their priorities and I'm able to do a better job for them because of it.

 

[HannaBelle]

"Oh, I've sworn never to talk about three things at work: politics, religion, and <sports team, American Idol, whatever>."

This is perfect...it adds levity to take the edge off of the re-buff.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

This actually happened to me a few weeks ago. I'm currently working as a bank teller, and the customer in front of me just happened to be one of the former gym teachers from my high school. He started going off about the situation in the Middle East and giving his (negative) opinion about our president...now, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, so I just did my usual "smile-and-nod" while focusing my attention on the computer. He was extremely vocal; there were no other customers in the bank at the time, but the receptionist was staring, and the 2 CSRs and even my boss poked their heads out of their offices. Then he asked me what my thoughts were. I just said I hadn't had much of a chance to give it much thought, and he said, "Well, I don't have a lot of respect for people who are afraid to give their opinions." Luckily, it was time for me to count his cash back to him, and he didn't hang around after that.

I have also learned to "smile-and-nod" when it comes to my future FIL. He gets a bit...um, "passionate" when it comes to politics.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I have this happen all the time. I do 1:1 observations so I'm in the same room with someone for 8+ hours a day and while some people choose to ignore my presence most of them want to chat.

When it comes to religion and politics I just smile and nod

 

[Carly_Roach]

This is a case where biting one's tongue, even if it means the other person now feels you agree with them, is appropriate.

You NEVER speak politics with clients. Ever.

Agreed.

My non-committal phrase is: "Oh dear. I can understand why that would upset you." Doesn't matter what they said, even it it's a total blast against a candidate that I believe in. "I can understand why that would upset you" isn't an agreement with their viewpoints; it's just an empathic way of acknowledging their issues before moving onto the reason we're both standing at this exact spot at this exact time: business.

If they were to ever come back and say that I agreed with them that all Swedish people under the age of 30 should have been killed at birth, I can correct them and say no, I only said that I understood why a 25 y/o blonde who totaled their car would upset them.