I'm struggling - work related

[wkatie]

Thanks all. I really appreciate it.

[wkatie]

Both coworkers and shareholders are of this demo. Not 100% of them, but the majority.

[elleblue]

I find it incredibly inappropriate that the VP sent out a political email to the entire company. I'd be tempted to go to HR, though I realize that may just cause problems you don't want to have to deal with. 

[Deleted]

I am in the same situation. I work with two older gentlemen that are nice and we get along but they are super white conservative religious types. I am a liberal atheist. They don't know I'm atheist but they know I'm more of a liberal. We keep our conversations away from politics and religion. I don't like discussing it with people I have to see everyday especially when I know we have different opinions. Sending out that link about ISIS was inappropriate and I would talk to HR about it. Where I live, it's hard to not work with that type of person. Most people are conservative Christians around here so I totally understand your fish out of water feeling. I don't really have any advice other than to ignore what you can, report what's inappropriate, do your job, and avoid those topics.

[wkatie]

Yes, it is so incredibly inappropriate. I am going to mention something to him about it, hopefully diplomatically.

[wkatie]

Jenny - totally agree. But I love the company, love the industry, love my role. I feel good about my work. I just don't agree with viewpoints held by most others here. I'm in a weird spot.

[jenny1223]

Assuming it doesn't actually come up too often and you otherwise like your work/pay/benefits, I think I could deal with it. However I would much prefer to work for a company and coworkers more inline with my values.

We have kind of the opposite issue at my work. Everyone here (small company, only 8 in my office) is pretty liberal and non-religious. Then we have one conservative, semi-racist Catholic. While I disagree with her fundamentally on just about everything, I do feel bad for her a bit and think she must feel so out of place sometimes.

[krystee]

Any chance they'll retire soon? I'd hate to give up a great gig because of ignorance...it's like letting them win. But I agree that I'd want to work with a team I was glad to be a part of.

That video would have me raging.

[Deleted]

Hmm. That's tough because every job I've had and liked, I've liked because of the people I work with.

On the other hand, it doesn't sound like you dislike them, you just don't see eye to eye on some things that are important to you, but don't come up frequently. I think I could probably deal with that as long as it's not a constant topic around there. Most of my XH's family was similar to what you describe, and they were lovely people I enjoyed being around - when they were not talking about their beliefs.

That said - I think if you could find a job somewhere that is a better fit and has all the positives you list, I'd look for it. Maybe not aggressively, but keep your eyes open and apply when you have opportunities to do so. I wouldn't rush out of your current job or anything, but there may be a job out there that has all those good things PLUS coworkers who are a better fit.

[DotAndBuzz]

If everything else is great, I'd stay.

Maybe if/when you bring it up (hopefully there's a HR person), approach it from the perspective not just of it being offensive and inappropriate for work, but also potentially opening up the company for an intimidating work environment law suit. I'm not even close to a lawyer, but if someone working there was genuinely offended, or part of a group that these guys send emails about, that just sounds like a very disaster waiting to happen. If not a lawsuit, at the very least terrible publicity/press if word got out that these guys hold those opinions, and the company does as well (since it was done over company email), by association and not addressing the issue. All it takes is one person who they think is "on their side" forwarding it to the local news, and shit would hit the fan.

[dexteroni]

I was in a somewhat similar situation with my last job. Most of my coworkers were conservative, and the company leadership definitely was, but fortunately they didn't send company-wide emails or even really talk about it that much at all.

Until the very end, I liked my job, my coworkers, and the company culture enough that the political aspect wasn't a big enough factor to really be an issue. If you love your job and the company, and like your coworkers other than the political issue, I think that's immensely valuable, and I would probably stay.

But if you really feel uncomfortable, it can't hurt to look around to see what else is out there. I freelance now, and I will say that it's nice when I happen upon a group of people with whom I feel more comfortable personally. I would just be very careful to make sure you wouldn't be trading away the things you love about your current role. If you find a position that seems promising, I would do some extreme googling of the company and as many employee names as you can to try to find out not only the political situation, but also company culture.

ETA: Thinking back, the political talk at my firm really only happened around election time. Is that why it's particularly bad now, or does it happen all the time? 

[wkatie]

Great points. Thanks everyone. Luckily it wasn't a company-wide email, but it was sent to a dozen or so people, not all management even. Horribly inappropriate.

[isabel]

I think it depends on how you view work. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't. If I had your job, I would deal with it and brush it off. I don't interact with coworkers outside of work, so it would only bother me in the moment. You can't change the minds of people like this.

That said, if you are the kind of person who cares about the work you do and your organization, then I would absolutely seek out a more compatible environment.

[dexteroni]

Oct 31, 2014 15:45:05 GMT -5 wkatie said:

I have a fantastic work/life balance.  I think I could find a similar position with another company, but I would have to work way harder - lol, but true.  I have amazing friends and a large network outside of work.  I do not particularly care if I am friends with my coworkers.

I just reread this part, and no way in hell would I give up such a sweet deal just because of my coworkers' political beliefs, unless their demonstration of those beliefs was way over the line, which doesn't sound like is the case here.

[kayakjenn]

All day long I deal with right-wing clients who share opposing views and my feeling is that if I can live my life at home outside of their bullshit, I can put up with it during the day. I just get in my car and listen to NPR, lol.

[Deleted]

Intentional discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, religion, etc. is the only thing that is a deal breaker for me . . . I feel like reasonable minds can differ on things like taxes, foreign policy, welfare programs, gun control, even abortion; I can disagree with someone's views about those issues without thinking they are ignorant and idiotic. Discrimination though, that is not something I could get beyond. Maybe I could work with people who felt that way, but not for someone who did, and especially not if that was the prevalent viewpoint. How can you stand to interact with people like that? That viewpoint is so disgusting it would make me unhappy at work, regardless of any other perks.

[sapphireblue]

My first instinct was to say that I could NOT work there because I have always been lucky enough to work in environments with people that were very liberal in their political and social viewpoints.

However, when you describe at the end how you make great money, they ARE very nice, you have a great work/life balance, I am not so sure. I think I would try VERY hard to be happy where I was!

[Deleted]

I'm a liberal Democrat in Kansas. You get used it.

I would gave no problem assuming I was comfortable with the organization's goals. It sounds like that is not a problem.

[wambam]

I think it's SO inappropriate that this is 1. Being discussed at work and 2. Work email was used to send political videos. Gross.

[wise_rita]

I'd stick with the job. It sounds like you've got it really good there, and the clash of cultures doesn't cause much strife.

Yor job isn't your life, and your colleagues aren't your friends. As long as their asshole tendencies don't get too bothersome, it sounds like just another job annoyance.