Should you talk about divisive topics at work?

Many of us were raised on the dictum that, other than heated debates around the dinner table at home, which are to be encouraged, in company you don’t talk politics or religion.

If only it were that simple. There are in fact a wider, and fast widening, range of topics best avoided, particularly in the workplace.

Colleagues, after all, are not your family, nor even your friends. Like random neighbors you fetch up beside, they are simply accidents of workplace geography trying to get through their day, pay their bills and get home, just like you.

What they don’t want is for their background, beliefs or body shape to become a source of ridicule, or worse, point-scoring debate. All that stuff about bringing your authentic self to work? Best not.

Pronounced culture wars

The culture wars are too pronounced, divisive, and even dangerous to weigh into. Whatever your views on everything from Gaza to abortion to gender identity, tread cautiously.

If you really do want to challenge someone’s point of principle, at least be respectful and bear the old sun and wind fable in mind; shine a warm light of interest, don’t just bloviate all over people.

Of course it’s not just politics that should be left off the table. Nor religion. There is a raft of topics likely to be contentious, including anything that undermines the protected classes under employment law.

Employment legislation makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone on the basis of color, religion, sex – including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity – national origin, age, disability and genetic information.

That includes every aspect of employment, not just hiring and firing but pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits “and any other term or condition of employment”.

Remember, one person’s hilarious chatter is another’s harassment suit. Although the law doesn’t prohibit “simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that aren’t very serious”, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile work environment”.

Talk about money

There is one topic that has for too long been taboo however and which needs to be brought out into the open – money.

Research from financial services firm Empower suggests nearly two thirds of Americans (62 percent) don’t talk about money. Three quarters won’t talk about it with friends and almost half (46 percent), won’t even broach it with their own spouse or partner. Many would sooner talk politics or death.

Yet it’s the one contentious topic we should be discussing, because pay secrecy helps only employers. For the rest of us it feeds inequity, and in particular, fuels the gender pay gap.

New laws have emerged in some states requiring employers to state pay grades openly. It’s not quite the full transparency of Scandinavian countries, which publish everyone’s tax returns, but it’s a good start, helping employees establish their worth and then ask for it.

As such, it’s the one taboo topic that is actually inclusive to talk about.

If you’re in the market to talk pay with a new employer, check out the opportunities on The Hill Jobs.

Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) is seeking a Vice President of Federal Government Affairs, based in Alexandria, who will be responsible for advancing the organization’s legislative and administrative federal agenda.

Benefits include health insurance with generous employer contribution, 401(K) match of up to 5 percent of salary, dental, disability, generous PTO, flexible work arrangements, professional development fund, and a fund to improve mental well-being.

Financial Policy Writer, Office of the Chief Financial Officer

The OCFO’s mission is to enhance the fiscal and financial stability, accountability and integrity of the Government of the District of Columbia.

It is currently hiring a Financial Policy Writer to support business operations and enterprise-wide technology change initiatives by producing effective written communication in the form of policies, procedures, and other guidelines. It offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental, retirement, and educational assistance.

Business Applications Manager, Minova, USA

Minova International is a global manufacturer and supplier of mining and infrastructure equipment.

This Business Applications Manager role, based in Georgetown, KY, is responsible for the support and development of business applications including ERP systems, Microsoft products, and data visualization and analytics.

Benefits include 401(K) matching, dental, health, life insurance, professional development assistance, bonus system and more.

For more job opportunities hiring this week, check out The Hill Jobs today