POLITICS Makes Strange Bedfellows - and stranger work colleagues
It is often said that work and politics should never mix. The same is said for work and sex as well as politics and sex. The term “strange bedfellows” was actually coined by William Shakespeare in the play, “The Tempest,” but the words have stood the test of time. Politics and work indeed make strange bedfellows. There has never been an era in which “cancel culture” is as pervasive as it is in our current internet age. A poor word choice, inappropriate or unfashionable clothing, or support for the wrong cause could leave us canceled, deleted, unfriended or shunned.
Before social media, most of us could successfully separate our work and private lives. Now, anyone can find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok or other sites we frequent. When job hunting, we are sagely advised to “clean up” our social media presence. Prospective employers pay outside services to scan social media of potential hires. The upshot is that we don’t want anything wild or crazy on our social media pages. Whatever your political persuasion, it’s best to keep it under control even outside the workplace. For example, if you are a card carrying member of the NRA and you work in education, you may not want to sport a photo of yourself carrying your favorite assault rifle or shotgun, lest you find yourself summarily escorted off the job. By the same token, if you work for a Catholic organization, you may not want to promote your recent donations to Planned Parenthood due to its inaccurate reputation as being solely a “pro-abortion” organization. In fact, Planned Parenthood does much more, including providing needed healthcare and reproductive services for lower income or uninsured women. There are women throughout the U.S. and worldwide who would not have received mammograms or other cancer and health screenings, if it were not for Planned Parenthood (and other partner organizations). Despite the great good that I feel that Planned Parenthood does, it is among the list of organizations that could be controversial to employers with “conservative” values.
Corporations care if your values are grossly misaligned with theirs. You could lose your job just for being seen at a political rally inconsistent with the corporation’s values. (People who work in government are expressly forbidden from attending rallies or political events supporting candidates). You should also care whether the organization that pays you promotes values that align with yours. Values matter. I may be unique, but if I am considering going to work for a company, I care about what people and what causes it supports. I look for the same in determining whether to do business with a company (or even whether or not to buy its products. I don’t, personally, do business with companies that actively support or promote causes or politicians I find offensive.
Whatever your political views though, whether you belong to the NRA, support Planned Parenthood, or have a strong viewpoint about immigration (a very hot topic these days), you may want to keep this under wraps at your workplace. Your colleagues may be uninterested in politics generally, or your views specifically. If you are self-employed, you have more latitude (though anyone’s political rantings can get tedious no matter what side they are on).
Showing one’s cards or political views in a professional setting is seldom wise. Not-for-Profit organizations are expressly forbidden from “getting involved in politics” if they want to keep their status. If your local Priest, Minister or Rabbi lectures from the pulpit about the merits of a presidential candidate, for example, they are walking a slippery slope that could cost their institution its not-for-profit status. In contrast, for-profit organizations have more leeway and can exercise their privilege to varying degrees. It’s no secret that gas, energy and tobacco companies donate millions to PACS that favor their businesses and minimize taxation and regulation. It is also well known that pharmaceutical companies invest millions to protect their interests, often resulting in exorbitant drug costs to consumers, despite corporate profits. Nonetheless, even though corporations get involved in politics, it would be a shame to suddenly find oneself unemployed because of a viral Facebook post criticizing or praising the “wrong” politician or government policy.
Be true to yourself. Never pretend to be someone you are not. Be who you are and be proud of it. However, since who we are also includes our beliefs, we may need to walk a tightrope between those beliefs and values and what we choose to share publicly. Being a militant anything can be off-putting (and might even get you arrested). When it comes to politics and the workplace, the best solution is to leave it outside.