I need some advice from anyone stopping by here.
In this morning's stupid, "let's all get along" meeting the boss (who was on speaker phone) began to give her opinion on the current President and his administration. I (loudly) asked her NOT to give her opinion, explained that I leaned left and that I had voted for this President. She then went on to say she didn't like this administration, she felt it was not doing a good job and she didn't like democrats. She got off the phone shortly after that and I left the meeting.
WTF?
I have just gone several rounds with an employee who steals time and who does not do her job and lost. I do not know that I have the energy to go several more and I will probably lose again.
But her comments were completely inappropriate and unprofessional for the setting. Obviously she is entitled to her opinion, but it was not the time or place to express them.
Any ideas on what I should do from here?
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6 comments:
I would start by speaking with your agency's HR division to find out what the rules are regarding political speech in the workplace.
Then, if it appears your supervisor violated those rules, you should consider - I say consider registering a formal complaint. If this person really is that free with her opinions, it is likely that you are not the first or only person she has subjected to what could constitute political intimidation. She is your boss. She has no business subjecting you to unwanted political rhetoric, especially after you have asked her not to. That sort of thing approaches Hostile Work Environment territory.
Of course, if you can't register a complaint anonymously, then you are putting yourself at some potential risk if the supervisor remains in a position of authority over you and knows that you are the one who complained.
The reptilian part of my brain says: keep up the fight.
The more evolved part of my brain says to chalk it up to ignorance and fear and just smile when confronted with non-work related shenanigans.
Those with such strong biases will not be changed... why waste good energy on bad energy?
Uncommonsense has good advice. I would add that you should not let their behavior drive yours...it makes you a puppet who can have the strings pulled. Remain professional, do your job, insist on professionalism from those who work for you. Make sure you document(date,time,details) anything that you feel is unprofessional or that makes your work environment hostile.
You won't gain anything by sinking to their level.
I feel that the office should have "separation of corporation and politics/religion." Bosses and employees should keep their opinions on either subject to themselves except in private, non-business conversations of course. A meeting is an inappropriate place for your boss to have expressed a political opinion.
That said, I think it's probably best to let sleeping dogs lie. While it would be satisfying to get your boss in trouble, it wouldn't take her long to figure out who complained, which would likely not bode well for your career. Just feel good knowing she is the one who is behaving inappropriately and leave it at that. (IMHO of course!)
Large corporation or small business? If you work for a large corporation, are there rules about respecting others' values and beliefs? If it is a small business; well, you are out of luck.
In any case, follow the rules. That is about all I can say.
I am in the process of applying for another (hopefully better) job. I have everything annotated and will contact HR (large corporation) IF I get the new job. While I feel like a giant loser by not fighting the good fight, the truth is I CAN NOT afford to lose this job.
But I do appreciate the advice.
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