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How to deal with Alt+Right employees?

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So I just got into a conversation with two of my employees that are trump supporters and while I have an issue with that it's not what bother me the most. When racism was brought up I mentioned that trump never disavowed the KKK and talked about the negativity it brings, they went straight to how "at least he doesn't condone and encourage the killing of cops."

Seriously WTF!? I had to walk away at this point. I don't know what else to say/do. Just mentioned that I won't bring up politics with them anymore.
 
D

Deleted member 231381

Unconfirmed Member
You ever heard the song Fighting Fire with Firing?
 
Safely ignore because you're doing regular grassroots activism to organize against white nationalism, and they're going home and playing Overwatch.
 
I was always taught religion and politics are 2 things you don't discuss outide of your home. Doing so can make you look differently at people who you consider friends.
 

marrec

Banned
So when you say "employees" what do you mean?

Also, how to deal with...?

Listen, as an adult you're going to be exposed to shit you may disagree with, especially in the workplace. If you can't handle talking about it then, like you said to them, you shouldn't bring it up.

That's how you "deal with" them.

Are you in a position to terminate their employment? Would you want to terminate their employment based on their views?

GAF can't tell you how to be a boss OP.
 
So I just got into a conversation with two of my employees that are trump supporters and while I have an issue with that it's not what bother me the most. When racism was brought up I mentioned that trump never disavowed the KKK and talked about the negativity it brings, they went straight to how "at least he doesn't condone and encourage the killing of cops."

Seriously WTF!? I had to walk away at this point. I don't know what else to say/do. Just mentioned that I won't bring up politics with them anymore.

.
 

Afrodium

Banned
These guys probably aren't alt right. Real alt right people are literal Nazis. I'm seeing this term used more and more to just describe Trump supporters, and if this moniker is successfully watered down then we're letting a banner that just months ago was flown by proud white supremacists to be a part of regular US politics.
 

marrec

Banned
Fire them

Then point out that you can do so thanks to people like Trump.

At Will, motherfuckers

This is kind of a bullshit answer though isn't it. It probably would feel real good to fire them (I doubt OP can fire them considering they can't handle the situation to begin with) but as someone who does have to deal with multiple employees who have differing viewpoints I know you can't just go around firing people because they're shitheads.

Business gotta get done still.

Remember this is just based on what the OP has said, if they are harassing other employees or being racist cunts in a way that would affect the bottom line (publicly, for example) then they'd be gone.
 
Well, they do have a point.

who the fuck is advocating for the killing of cops besides the same fringe that advocates for the killing of blacks?

get the hell out of here with this enabling shit.

"at least he didnt advocate for the killing of cops" is the same as saying "at least he didnt take his dick out and slap someone on camera".

Sure he technically didnt do that i guess, so he gets points for it? what? what kind of logic is that?
 
No I know the legal standings. My concern is how toxic this thinking can be in a work environment, especially when many of my other employees are really young and some still in high school. We pride ourselves of being multicultural and it has already been brought up that we let one employee wear a Hijab* but won't let one wear a baseball cap.

*She actually stopped wearing it on her own in fear of her safety (my store is in a very red part of my state).
 

marrec

Banned
No I know the legal standings. My concern is how toxic this thinking can be in a work environment, especially when many of my other employees are really young and some still in high school. We pride ourselves of being multicultural and it has already been brought up that we let one employee wear a Hijab* but won't let one wear a baseball cap.

*She actually stopped wearing it on her own in fear of her safety (my store is in a very red part of my state).

It will get as toxic as you, as the boss, lets it get.

Do you have any indication that it's getting toxic? Have you spoken to other employees about the matter? If people feel uncomfortable with these two employees making their viewpoints known, tell those two employees to keep it out of the workplace.

Did you have a meeting where you explained the decision on the hijab? Have you perhaps considered letting people wear ballcaps?
 

Calamari41

41 > 38
No I know the legal standings. My concern is how toxic this thinking can be in a work environment, especially when many of my other employees are really young and some still in high school. We pride ourselves of being multicultural and it has already been brought up that we let one employee wear a Hijab* but won't let one wear a baseball cap.

*She actually stopped wearing it on her own in fear of her safety (my store is in a very red part of my state).

Tell them that you'd prefer that they keep the political talk outside of work, and enforce this with the people you agree with as well.

Use the go-to, bulletproof HR reasoning: "I honestly don't see the problem, but someone complained so we have to tone it down."
 

BigDes

Member
This is kind of a bullshit answer though isn't it. It probably would feel real good to fire them (I doubt OP can fire them considering they can't handle the situation to begin with) but as someone who does have to deal with multiple employees who have differing viewpoints I know you can't just go around firing people because they're shitheads.

Business gotta get done still.

Remember this is just based on what the OP has said, if they are harassing other employees or being racist cunts in a way that would affect the bottom line (publicly, for example) then they'd be gone.

Oh yeah, it is just a childish power trip. In reality all OP can do is tell his employees to not talk about politics in the workplace.
 
Have you thought about debating or arguing with them? Maybe they'll show their true colours, and then if that happens to be bigoted, you can reprimand them.
 

Linkark07

Banned
Don't talk politics at work.

Actually, don't speak about politics or religion anywhere except in private with people you trust unless you want to open a can of worm. Not worth it. You won't change them and you don't want to have a headache because of people like them.
 

Rootbeer

Banned
Are they good employees? I would hope that they are since they are still employed by you. Just let it lie. I really don't think it's an employer's job to judge an employee based on their beliefs, but I also don't think the workplace is where these sorts of discussions belong.

I've worked at jobs where co-workers higher up than me would try to talk religion stuff with me and other co-workers, and it really bothered me. I feel the same way about politics and other sensitive topics that are better discussed in other environments.

When I encounter people at the workplace who don't share my beliefs (however I may discover that, usually not by my doing I assure you), I do my best to diffuse and steer the conversation elsewhere. I'm just there to earn my living, I don't want any excuse to have personal issues with my co-workers.
 
who the fuck is advocating for the killing of cops besides the same fringe that advocates for the killing of blacks?

get the hell out of here with this enabling shit.

"at least he didnt advocate for the killing of cops" is the same as saying "at least he didnt take his dick out and slap someone on camera".

Sure he technically didnt do that i guess, so he gets points for it? what? what kind of logic is that?

I'm not aware of anyone advocating the killing of cops, but that's irrelevant to the anecdote as it has been presented.

For the cheap seats: OP should have called out the whataboutism, but the employees said nothing factually incorrect.
 
i discuss politics at work and with friends

but my country isn't nearly as polarized

most parties can be trusted to be acting in relatively good faith

anyone expressing this kind of view would be laughed out of the room in my circles
 
There are two subjects I refuse to talk about at work. Politics and religion. A lot of this has to do with the fact that I'm a liberal atheist living in the south.
 

deli2000

Member
Trump has said a lot of wild things, but I'm having difficulty recalling when he said he was in favor of killing cops.

I might be mistaken.

Oh that was your point. You're totally right on that. I thought the OP was implying they were trying paint groups like BLM in a bad light. (BLM are often accused by right wingers of advocating cop killings)
 
Politics is like religion, no discussion is going to change anyone's mind. That being said, I love discussing both of these topics. I enjoy hearing how different people can be and why they think the way they do. I do my best not to express my own views unless I'm specifically asked so that I don't taint the discussion.

I don't think people should be fired for talking politics or religion at work. Now if the discussion escalates into something inappropriate then maybe.
 
Never talk politics and religion at work.

Unfortunately it has become worse through the years. 15 years ago I would work with people for years and never knew people's religion or politics. Now people ask you obvious cultural signalling questions to see which side you are on the stupid cultural war. There is only so many coy answers I can come up with. Most of these people just want a captive audience to rant at because outside of work it would be acceptable to tell them to "shut the fuck up".

I don't think people should be fired for talking politics or religion at work. Now if the discussion escalates into something inappropriate then maybe.

I think people should be fired. You are creating a uncomfortable working environment. I am not at work to entertain you. Get some friends and talk politics and religion with them.
 
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