Our office manager (white female) just came to me about a mailroom employee (black female & her direct report) who is wearing an Obama pin on her blouse. She said she recalled these kinds of expressions (religious, political, etc.) being banned at one point. Since she's been here for 29 years, I'm sure she does. (Side note: The company was founded in 1921 and the first black employee (the receptionist) was hired in 1982).
I politely told the manager that unless this woman is rallying, campaigning, etc. on the company dime, she could wear her button. She then mentioned, slyly, "I hope people don't start wearing Clinton or McCain pins." I again told her, if it's just a pin on their person, it's not an issue.
What's your employer's stance on this type of issue?
Good question, I don't even know to tell you the truth and I wouldn't care, if i were into politics like that, I'd wear my button proudly. Freedom of expression.
ReplyDeleteWe're a plaintiffs-defense class action firm... all about "the rights of the little guy" here -- political conversation is bandied about on the regular. Most folks here are Democrats and support is heavy for Obama...
ReplyDeleteWe're pretty laid back here... and topics of politics, religion and so forth are usually welcomed.... but ususally discussed by idiots that dont know shit... so I refrain from talking to a bunch of pig headed people that dont even really watch the news to keep up to at least to know what their talking about and not just out the side of their ass.... Which is why I talk to yall alllllll dammmmmn day... lol...
ReplyDeleteBut, we can wear what we want... we just can be posting shit on the wall and harrassing people with it...
We have a policy against campaigning or soliciting on the part of school board candidates (work for an elementary school district)...I don't think there's one explicitly prohibiting it on behalf of candidates for public office. However I think there's a good chance it's not allowed though. (I'm going to look in the policy handbook now).
ReplyDeleteI have one co-worker who's a stanch democrat. She wore her Obama button daily and this was when he was running for the Senate! She keeps her little desk radio on NPR and bugs the hell out of her cubicle neighbors.
Wearing a pin is the absolute LEAST of the professionalism issues at my job, but that's a blog for another day LOL
ReplyDeleteThat, I wouldn't have an issue with.
ReplyDeleteI 'm a business owner and I can tell you there is no place for Politics ,
ReplyDeleteReligion or Race in the work place. Because I believe it
divides us, which it the opposite of the cohesiveness
I'm trying to achieve a team atmosphere in my company.
I am a federal employee at the US Court of Appeals. They could care less about what kind of pin you are wearing. Hell, half the time, folks in my office don't speak or acknowledge your presence...which is cool with me.
ReplyDeleteBut what IS stupid, we have this "HOLIDAY" party every year at work. Can't call it a Christmas party. Its catered [and always sucks] along with CHRISTMAS decorations but it is referred to as the HOLIDAY party.
Yeah, I know Hannukah falls around the same time, but guess what, Hannukah isn't celebrated with CHRISTMAS decorations, is it?
I just find it kind of funny.....you know people are trip all around.
Now y'all gon make me go out and get an Obama pin just so I can cuss somebody out for saying something to me about it.
Found the policy about politicking on the j-o-b...
ReplyDeleteProhibited Political Activity
"No employee shall intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time. No Board Member or employee shall intentionally use any property or resources of the District Section 2 Page 15 of 52
in connection with any prohibited political activity. At no time shall any Board Member or employee intentionally require any other Board Member or employee to perform any prohibited political activity: (a) as part of that Board Member’s or employee’s duties, (b) as a condition of employment, or (c) during any compensated time off, i.e., as holidays, vacation or personal time off. No Board
Member or employee shall be required at any time to participate in any prohibited political activity in consideration for that Board Member or employee being awarded additional compensation or any benefit, whether in the form of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment or otherwise, nor shall any Board Member or employee be awarded additional
compensation or any benefit in consideration for his or her participation in any prohibited political activity.
A Board Member or employee may engage in activities that: (1) are otherwise appropriate as part of his or her official duties, or (2) are undertaken by the individual on a voluntary basis that are not prohibited by this policy."
It doesn't bother me...as long as it's fair and balanced.
ReplyDeleteAs for as your office manager is concerned...typical.
If a woman's religion required her hair to be covered when in public, you wouldn't hire her?
ReplyDeleteSure if is part of her religion and I must agreed to it
ReplyDeletestay complainant with New York State Labor Laws...
Gotcha.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there is any rule in our handbook. And I am sure if someone were to wear an Obama pin, HR wouldn't say anything. But with me working in the public with mostly lil old Republicans as clients (who assume I have the same belief system), I try my best to stay away from my personal beliefs at work.
ReplyDeleteJust before our primary elections, this little old lady was going on and on about the wonder that is Hillary Clinton. I saw no need to polarize the conversation by stating my allegiance to Obama. It wasn't the time or the place. I just nodded while she talked, then went to the polls and voted for Barack Obama.
I'm not sure what our policy it..I will have to look it up. I think it should be left out of the workplace. A pin on your coat...ok. A pin on your blouse...I don't agree with.
ReplyDeleteAround major elections, the company always sends emails that encourage people to go vote. They even go as far as to say to make arrangements to leave early if you have to. So, I don't think wearing a pin or even putting upa personal poster AT YOUR DESK would be a problem. I think it would cause problems if you started posting pictures, passing out stuff, and talking to any and everyone who crosses your path all over the building. They don't allow that.
ReplyDeleteI dont really care what people views are, however if you are in a company that is working with the public, I dont think a person should wear a pin supporting anything. If I owned a company I would not want someone rocking a ___________ pin, and greeting customers, because staunch supporters of the other candidates may be turned off to my service, store, whatever, because of it.
ReplyDeleteI would not care however, if someone had a head scarf cause of religion or whatever.
I work in a library. I don't believe there is a set policy about something like that, or if there is, I've never been informed of it; but we are required to use common sense b/c we work with the public. Basically like others have stated, wearing a pin like that while greeting patrons could be divisive and not what we want here. I actually don't think it's ever been an issue here.
ReplyDeleteUnless it was downright vulgar or obsecene, it wouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what my company policy is.
ReplyDeleteWhat I said on Mar 19, 2008
ReplyDeleteSo is it wrong to wear a cross? Look political and religious expression can not be stifled unless you are harassing people. You have to tread carefully when you start imposing on people even in the work place about things like that. Company policy has to be explicit about how to handle these situations or else you risk getting sued over stuff like this, the ACLU loves stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteThat's just it. She works in the mailroom. The only public who sees her are the UPS, FedEx, etc. folks.
ReplyDelete