Politics in the workplace

Generally, I'm uncomfortable mixing politics and work.

There's many reasons for this. For the last four years I've worked for a Big 4 firm doing tech consulting. I don't want to know many of my client's or coworkers' politics are, because based on the glimpses I've seen, there's a good chance their politics suck. My politics are often not aligned with the people I work with, and that means discussions can get heated.

When a discussion gets heated, people get uncomfortable. Rather than engage and makes others uncomfortable, it's often safer to find another topic of conversation. I think this is a legitimate reason to avoid talking politics with people who are forced to be around you by nature of their employment. In and around the workplace, people shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable.

But let's talk about my politics for a moment.

I believe that bigotry in all its forms is insidious, disgusting, and wrong. I believe each of us needs to constantly be checking ourselves to eliminate both conscious and unconscious bias in order to root out our own bigotry.

I believe that the acquisition of wealth for the sake of wealth is a morally abhorrent goal, and that people are fundamentally more valuable than property. I believe in the redistribution of wealth from the richest (including me) to the most vulnerable in our communities.

I believe that the social contract that gives individuals or groups power only exists because we allow it to exist, and that collective direct action is the most powerful tool we have to combat exploitative governments and corporations.

I believe that your politics are what you express through your actions, not what you claim is in your heart. Your politics are the conversations you have with people around you, the places and causes to which you dedicate your time, resources, and effort.  They are the words you write and share with others, and the words you speak out loud for everyone to hear

I believe that everyone fails, but that doesn't mean everyone is lost or that we have to stop trying. I believe that we can do better.

Because here's the thing - despite what I just wrote, the truth is that there's another reason I keep my mouth shut at work when politics come up. That reason is my own cowardice in the face of risk. The risk that my beliefs will result in punishment: immediately, or in those softer and more understated ways that organizations and people punish those who disagree with them. Maybe that promotion I think I should get won't happen. Better not disagree about social justice at work. Maybe I won't get a job offer because the interviewer checks out my Facebook page and is turned off by my politics. Better not post that I support the defunding or abolition of police. Maybe a client won't sign on because I spoke too loudly on something they disagreed with. Better keep my mouth shut.

I'm shaking my head right now as I type this out.  I'm an educated, articulate, straight, white, male. I have just about as much privilege as anyone can conceivably have. What am I afraid of? If I don't get this promotion, there will be other promotions and other jobs.  If I don't land this client, there will be better clients out there.  What am I actually risking?

Importantly, what behaviour am I modelling for those around me?  For people who respect my work, for people who look up to me, for my own son.

With all that said, I'm going to try something a bit different. I'm trying to speak out among my peer group in person and online, and raise the issues I care about.

Human rights and social justice are not things that only happen outside of work, and pretending that politics can somehow be ignored for the tens of thousands of hours in your life that you will spend at work is nonsense. I can be better, I can do better.

Not sure if anyone will read or pay attention to this, but if you read this and it resonates, hit me up and I'd be happy to talk about how we can do better together.