Political based harrasment at Work.

Has anyone else been harrased in the workplace due to your political beliefs? I really don't talk much about politics while at work. I proudly wear my Stealie hat with my Terrapin Wings and listen to The Grateful Dead while working so they know where I stand. I'm a hard working guy that allways does a good job and never slacks off and allways follows company rules and policies. My boss hasn't done anything about it and I fear my coworkers will retaliate if I say anything.

 

I know what you mean, but I've been pretty lucky. I never talk politics at work (except to one co-worker, who's liberal), and luckily my boss doesn't. I'm pretty sure we'd disagree somewhat, but it'd be cordial (not like a forum fight.)

A boss I had a while ago at a different job was the polar opposite of me, but we did talk and have friendly debates (arguments) about it. That was unusual though.

The problem comes when the boss lets everyone know his/her view and the people who work for him/her have to either keep quiet, or worse smirk at stupid jokes they disagree with...or try to appear to have the same views. If you felt like you have to kiss up politically to get ahead, that would really suck.

I've definitely had sexist and racist bosses in my life that were problematic. I worked at a gas station when I was young and it was full of both. I was always soooo quiet. I remember the bosses friends would joke to him that I was going to turn on him some day since I was so quite when they were joking around. I'm not sure if they realized I disagreed with them so much as they though I was just crazy. I heard later that that boss really liked me because I was such a good worker....I was so surprised because I really barely ever talked to him personally at all...it was all business.

I'd be easy to say, find a job were you are comfortable being yourself....but that's not always possible, and you certainly don't want to start spouting off your political views during an interview unless it's related to the job. It's not always possible to be open when first starting a job or for a while...and after that point it might be too late.

 

all the time

i'm an anarchist and my wife is a liberal democrat

[we're self-employed]

there's sexual harrassment too!

[smiley goes here]

 

how are you being harassed? what do you define as political harassment?

 

I don't even worry about harassment too much any more. Screw all those ignorant bastards actually... I still have a Ron Paul for pres sign in my yard. One side of it has a "Rednecks for Obama" stuck on it. I could give a rats ass if someone does not like it. 'Course I don't have a "job". And I DO occasionally have to back off when something I've been working on, like the anti-high voltage power line project, needs spokespeople or representatives in the "socially acceptable" category. But I figure everybody has their place, and mine is doin' wat I do. Somebody's gotta do it.
The trade off is mostly where we have folks in the neighborhood who do "night watch" to make sure if anyone tries anything funky they will get caught. And I always drive with one eye in the rear view watching for trouble from behind. And I DON'T travel alone at night. But really, we're at war. It's us against them. They created it, we didn't. I just mostly feel sorry for those who are too ignorant to let people be themselves.

 

A coworker guy printed up a bunch of hateful attacks against Obama and Democrats in general. The printouts compare him to Hitler and labels his follower as communists and terrorists. One of the print outs attacks "latte liberals" and attacks vegetarians because Hitler was a vegetarian. He knows I'm a vegetarian. He stapled these printouts to the wall of the main hallway and right next to the time clock. You can't avoid seeing them. He also has refered to another coworker as a communist because she supports Obama. They have an electronic sign in the break room that he changed to read "Smash the reactionary forces of opposition". The print outs are nothing but hateful attacks against anyone that doesn't support McCain and questions the patriotism of his detractors.Everyone has the right to a workplace that is free of hostility and to not have coworkers force their opinions them. He has the right to his own opinion but not the right to force that opinion on other people.

 

thats not political harassment thats freedom of speech.. bigoted insensitive freedom of speech but freedom of speech none the less..

make up a bunch attacking mccain and plaster them all over,if they tear them down,,then ya have a case...

 

That sitch sux.

But, until you're the guy who could staple up political cartoons wherever you wanted, you're pretty much Stuck Like Chuck with checking your personal feelings at the door.

Also, if he owns the business, it's his right to do whatever he likes with, about, inside of, etc. it. i've had a real problem for years with this No Smoking City Ordinance ~ how dare anyone make any type of decision that is going to affect my bottom line about MY business, that i OWN?!? And to out-law a LEGAL substance?!?

a funny ~ My hubby and i were a long-haul OTR truck driving team for some years, and the first time we went into North or South Carolina (can't remember which...), we stopped at a truck stop to eat. The hostess met us at the door, asked, "Two?" to which i replied, "Yes, smoking section please."

Her eyes got sort of wide and she said, "Honey, this is (North or South) Carolina. This whole STATE is in 'the smoking section!' ROFL

 

*Mutters...what kind of person would ever want to make money selling cigarettes...or alcohol?*

 

People who know that it isn't what you put INTO a man that defiles him?

Just a guess...

 

Replace "know" with "pretend" and we have agreement.

 

< * sigh * >

Well, there's always next time... :rofl: :rofl:

 

Well I can't tell where this post is going, so I won't feel bad relaying a story from a guy at work. He had Obama signs in his yard which were all stolen week before last. We have a competition coming up at work connected with a potluck. He had to forgo working on his competition entry last weekend because he spent that time re-making his Obama signs and HANGING THEM FROM TREES ON HIS PROPERTY in hopes that they wouldn't get stolen. I hear that other people have taken to treating their sings with poison ivy to teach a lesson. lol

Fyrenza, when Mr. Wonderful and myself drove from CA to Maine 10 years ago we stopped in Kentucky at a diner for breakfast. You know what was funny as hell? The designated non-smoking area was OUTSIDE at one small table. It's changed most everywhere else, but I'm betting it's the same at that little pit stop.

 

Ummm, no one has every handed out that kind of hate and passed it off as acceptable in my work place in pamphlets. I would speak to your boss ASAP if I were you.

Solicitation like that is unwelcomed, uncalled for and inappropriate.

 

He doesn't own the business. He has every right to put up that kind of hatefilled garbage in his own office but not in a common area (main hallway) where customers can see it. Its also in the breakroom and right by the timeclock which is next to one of the main entrances.You can't help but see its its right in your face! NO ONE ever has the right to force their opinion on ANYONE!!!!!! Doing something like that is childish,disrespectful, immature,and downright unprofessional! I don't force my opinion on others so I have the right to expect the same treatment.

These aren't cartoons Fyrenza they are hatefull personal attacks against Obama his supporters, and Democrats in general. He changed the electronic sign in the breakroom to read SMASH the reactionary forces of opposition!!! I wouldn't put up things like that if I ran the show as they are disruptive to the work place and are morally and ethically wrong!

Freedom of speech means that you take on the responsibility not to infringe on others rights. i.e. the saying about not yelling fire in a crowded theater. This not only infringes on my rights but I'm betting it would met the criteria for the of the legal term hostile work environment.

My boss as well as the majority of my coworkers are McCain supporters. My boss isn't a rabid McCainist but this guy is. 1. I'm afraid my boss will side with him. 2. If my boss doesn't side with him I think my coworker will retaliate and try to do someting to me if my boss gets after his about it.

 

Quit your whining.

 

ok wacky, that picture of obama as a nazi is a bit much. That's not fucking funny. The holocaust is not a fucking joke. My grandfather fought the nazis you spoiled prick.

 

Unfortunately, he may just be echoing the views of the real owner. And it is the right of the owner of the business to advertise whom-so-ever he may want to... That was the beauty of being 'The Owner.' Some of us did that. Others forsook that. For those that achieved what they wanted, a hearty "Cheers!" For the rest of us, well ~ we're the peons in the eyes of the powerful ~ useful, necessary, but ultimately expendable. Sad, but true.

Sweetie, i know EXACTLY what you're saying! i've been battling anti-McCain folks, with their oh-so-cute/funny/[fill in the blank] crap. It sux, and it's stupid. All you can do is just ignore it. And you know what? Standing for what YOU believe, without resorting to being an asshole, shows all the thinking world that you won't stoop to that level, that your beliefs are something you hold dear, and that you are a rational person, who has made a rational decision, based on your opinions and whatever facts you were able to collect. YOU, my friend, are an Obaminite worth debating!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bullspit. Freedom of speech means that you can say ANYTHING your heart desires, period. If other people don't like it, they can pump off. And that's what we have to do ~ find it, and then ignore it. If it isn't 'popular,' it doesn't exist ~ at least not in the US.

And something i need to say here ~ i didn't notice what state you live in, but many of them are what is known as 'right to work' states. In a 'right to work' state, you are completely at the mercy of your employer. If they choose to fire you because you don't hold your mouth a certain way, THEY CAN DO IT. Yeah. i do live in a 'right to work' state, so ~ been there, got fired for having a horrible, communicable disease (HepC), and i can understand EXACTLY why they HAD to get rid of me. Medical costs for treatment = $80K/yr. ~ yeah, i couldn't afford it, and neither could they...

Now that is unacceptable ~ in a perfect society. Too bad we live one where sucking up seems to make some sort of diff...

Speaking of Sucking up... i think you're just going to have to Buck up, ignore the stupidity around you, connect with others of your bent, and realize that this is how folks are ~ for some oblivious reason, they WANT to be led down a primrose path, and, pal? If you could figure out one that they'd fall for? You'd be RICH! :rofl:

 

Mine too! It's nice to know both of our grandfathers fought for our freedoms!

Something tells me you don't have a problem with this one though.

 

yes, I do have a problem with that one.

Although I have to say, that first one is definitely worse. I think maybe it has something to do with the fact that it shows not only obama but all the people who support him as nazis. it's vile, and tasteless. and revealing.