Is it appropriate to wear/display partisan political stuff at work?

[UdoKier]

Is it appropriate to wear/display partisan political stuff at work?

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Discretion and wisdom, Mr. Kier. Discretion and wisdom.

--bkl

[FlaGranny]

2. A bumper sticker on your car in the parking lot

is okay. Anything inside the office is not. I equate it with religion in the office - not conducive to business. Besides, most businesses appreciate clients of all political persuasions as well as all religious persuasions and rule #1 - no not alienate customers; rule #2 - prevent fights amongst employees. So, from the standpoint of the business owner, the answer is no.

[question everything]

19. My feelings exactly. Also, self-preservation for those of us who need

our jobs, who cannot just quit and find something else, and whose bosses are pugs.

Earlier this week I finally got around to put a Kerry Edwards sticker on the rear window of my car. As I drove to work I ended up parking next to my boss' car and realized that he just put a W sticker on his rear window. Thus, we had both our cars parked next to each other with the two signs almost next to each other.

He may have not noticed it that day, but by now did and, I am not sure, I feel a little chill in the air. Still, there is nothing he can do to me and I am a small peon.

My spouse won't dare even that. A small, "family owned" company where the owner is a religious fundamentalist and we heard that after the 2000 elections that owner and his wife shed tears of joy that someone like themselves - another Jesus freak - was now in the White House.

Bush was here last Saturday and Edwards on Sunday - and we were at his free rally (one needed tickets and a loyalty oath to attend Bush's).

Monday my spouse came home from work and told me what a horrible management meeting they had. It takes place during lunch hour, so the first half hour or so is just socializing. This time several of them, including the owner, of course, marveled at the Bush rally that they attended. My spouse chose not to talk about our rally.

[MercutioATC]

3. Not for me. The Hatch Act prohibits it (Federal employee).

Bumper stickers in the parking lot are O.K., though.

[Technowitch]

4. I have to say 'no' to this one

A workplace should be politics-free.

Or, put it another way, given who we are here: How would you like it if there were banners and buttons and t-shirts and bumperstickers plastered all over your workplace, ALL SUPPORTING BUSH?

Would you not feel threatened. If you got a lousy assignment, could you truly believe it wasn't because you failed to go along with what your BOSS has plastered on his door?

No, it's simply unwise and disruptive.

[SharonAnn]

5. Hmm, where I work there are "W" banners, button, t-shirts,

big posters, and screensavers all over the place.

Sigh, I just have to look past it and do my work.

[FlaGranny]

7. How awful. It's a shame

there's no law against it.

[Shadowen]

6. Nothing ostentatious.

Like, don't wear this.

But a simple Kerry/Edwards '04 button...not a problem.

[TahitiNut]

8. Not as a government employee. (And not for management.)

As a manager, I'd advise people to keep it positive and personal. A democracy depends on the involvement of citizens, so anything that reflects such involvement (while respecting the involvement of others) should be permitted.

At the same time, an employee's views must be kept separate from the views of the company and its management.

Employers should not have to put up signs that say "The political views of our employees do not necessarily reflect the views of our company, its management, or its customers."

If anyone's political views should be kept out of the workplace, it's the views of management!

[sr_pacifica]

9. I originally voted "other" but

I think I would change my vote to anything in your cubicle or locker, but no buttons. I think it's best not to be too "in your face" about it with people you need to work with. For instance, where I work one fellow had a "Bush/Cheney" sticker on the edge of his cube wall so every one walking by could plainly see it. Since my department consists mostly of Democrats and Leftists, this did not go over well. He would find his sticker turned upside down and every which way by anonymous passers-by (I admit I was one of them). So, it was cause of much animosity. Mostly I see anti-Bush paraphenalia in people's cubes; I can't think of anyone that has a Kerry/Edwards anything---only stickers on cars in the parking lot.

[sweetheart]

10. live and let live

As you are a business owner, i would hope you would turn a blind eye
and let nature take its course.

Myself I have no issue with people expressing themselves, as it
makes for a richer workforce, who in turn empower the company to
be more diverse and flexible.

I would only be wary with customers/sales, unless politics is
part of the business pitch... like green-sensitive pet foods sorta
things... where the buyer is purchasing politics as a product value.

Wholesale customers, you generally know their political swing, and
lay low... retail customers, methinks keeping even lower key is
wiser.

That said, when companies like halliburton and sinclair are
grossly crossing this line, it opens the field to all things.

However, i would reprimand a salesperson who lost a deal by showing
politics, and ask it not happen again....

Good question.... like the first poster said... discretion and wisdom.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. No

Your car, fine. Your cube/office/workspace, no. It's not "your" cube anyway, it's the company's. You have the obligation to maintain a professional demeanor on the job and that includes the way you maintain your workspace.

Same for what you wear. Your jacket, backpack or whatever can display any sentiment you want, but once you walk into work it should be stowed away.

[WLKjr]

12. I bitched a coworker out over it

stating that he was in clear violation of work ethics while on the clock and I would not tolerate it because I have seen other associates with anti W apparel and they were basically told to lose it or leave. yet no one says anything to the many W supporters. It pissed me off to the point on a few that I actually took it to higher ups and finally after a long while they were told to remove them.

This gentleman I remined him that he was no different, and all he had to say was "your only saying that cuz you love kerry" and I said, "No, I am doing it becuase if you treat one one way, you treat them all the same, it's called being fair. BTW, go read your ethics policy, page 22 where it says not to wear political stuff while on the clock....."

[ibegurpard]

13. You should respect the policies of your particular workplace.

If they have no problem with it then, yes, it's appropriate.

[qnr]

14. I would probably stick to coffee cups, mousepads or

maybe monitor wallpaper, where for anyone to actually see it, they'd have to be consciously checking out my workspace (meaning, no posters, etc.)

[baldguy]

15. Depends on the employer

Your time at work is their time, your workplace is their property. Generaly, as long as it doesn't effect your or your coworkers performance it shouldn't be a problem.

[Jack_DeLeon]

16. Only if you care about your politics more than your job...

[no_arbusto]

17. Not where I work

I work for a government contractor. I can confirm that at least 70% of us are voting for Kerry but, outside of the parking lot, display of political preference is not allowed.

[Zookeeper]

18. I would expect to be able to have partisan stuff inside...

of my cubicle as long as I wasn't meeting the public.