You should not be discussing politics at work, regardless of whether a contentious election season is over, in the midst, or about to begin. Even if a campaign season isn’t fraught with controversy, this is still a good idea.

Why should you avoid political discussions at work?

Your candidate may be a strong choice for you. Why should you? You support the person running for office. The candidate has pledged to implement policies that you are passionate about. Everybody should be proud of the candidate they are supporting.

However, this is not always true. You may not have a shared ideology with everyone. This could lead to you having a negative relationship with your coworkers. Other coworkers may be uncomfortable, even if they agree with your political views. You may also make your boss furious.

Can your boss ban political discussions?

If your boss notices that you are having political discussions, he or she can end them. These conversations may be banned by your employer. They are legal to do so in most cases, unless your conversation is about labor-related issues under the National Labor Relations Act. These issues could include wages, unionizing, and working conditions.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a government agency that enforces this law, may be contacted to report violations. Some states provide protection for workers against retaliation by their employers because of political affiliations or activities. If your employer fires your for expressing your opinion, make sure you check the laws in your state.

What about Ranting on Social Media

You’re allowed to vent on social media as much as you like. There will be consequences for your behavior. If your boss sees your rantings, they may terminate your employment. You run the risk of creating friction between you and your coworkers if they see what you post and comment on social media.

While it may be fine to speak your mind in other areas of your life, consider how much time you spend with co-workers each day and the fact that they must work alongside you. If you decide to post something that could cause a disruption in a working relationship, think about this. To ensure that you can communicate freely with your boss and coworkers, increase your security settings.

What to talk about instead of politics

Cokie Roberts, a journalist in a Good Morning Americasegment on how to avoid political discussions at family gatherings, suggested that we talk about dogs. Why not? Everybody loves dogs, or at the very least most people have no negative opinions about them. Canine companions are a great topic for conversation at work, and can even replace political talk. You can also discuss other topics. Avoid discussing topics not appropriate for the workplace.

You can:

• Discuss your vacation plans. Did you just come back from a wonderful trip or are you planning to go somewhere new? It would be a great idea to share your vacation plans with coworkers.
• Share your recipes: Tell your coworkers about your delicious dinner, or ask for a recipe to bring to the neighbor’s potluck.
• Recommend restaurant: Talking about eating, why not write a review at the new restaurant you visited with a friend for lunch?
• Tell them about your weekend. This topic is fine as long as it doesn’t involve you going to a rally or campaigning for your favourite candidate.
• Tell us about a book or movie you just finished reading. Have you been struggling to sleep, have you enjoyed the blockbuster or binge-watching a tv series? You can all use entertainment, so share it.

Dos and Don’ts of the Day After

• Do not gloat It doesn’t matter how happy you are that your candidate won, there’s no reason to celebrate with your coworkers. You can celebrate your candidate’s win on your own. A sore loser is not something anyone likes.
• Do not be discouraged:Sore losers aren’t seen favorably. Concentrate your efforts on helping your candidate or your party win the next election even if they lose.
• Don’t wear campaign gear: T-shirts and hats with the slogan or face of your candidate never had any business at work during the campaign.