I have a pet theory that we (that is, the culture I'm familiar with, so I don't really know how widespread it is, but at least the white U.S.) have spent too long saying "don't discuss politics, sex, religion, and politics".
We literally have no practice handling differences regarding the very items people are passionate about.
The answer isn't to get into massive drama-filled flame wars, nor to drive people with minority opinions into hiding, but at the same time I don't think continuing the "enforced silence until it's considered common knowledge" is the right way to handle it.
See another comment pointing out that issues like gender equality, cognitive diversity, and workplace rights regardless of sexual preferences are ALL "political", but also directly impact the workplace. How do we decide workplace issues if not at the workplace?
>We literally have no practice handling differences regarding the very items people are passionate about.
Looking at it from the employer side, that passion is precisely why these policies are being enacted.
Were I employing someone, I'm required to not have a hostile work environment, which includes certain jokes (because people may be offended), and now includes politics (because people may be offended), and people being offended means I can get sued.
The safest thing I can do, that any company can do, is say "check your politics at the door" and then fire anyone who does it anyways.
It's a garbage solution for the reasons you bring up, but unless we change how those regulations are set up, it's the option that many will take.
IANAL, but I don't think a hostile work environment means "no one ever says something that is offensive", but rather an environment where that is normal and accepted. If we learn how to be more adult in our conversations, which includes:
* Trying not to offend
* Being open to accepting that we have
* Try not to repeat
* Accepting that others will make mistakes and can change their ways
...then we're not hostile. (But again, IANAL)
Given that being "non-political" is inherently not possible (see above posts regarding the inevitability of political issues affecting the workplace to enter the workplace), the above points may be hard, but are the more plausible option.
That doesn't mean ALL politics has to enter the office, but firing anyone that doesn't "check their politics at the door" just won't work.
And regardless of office rules, we as society need to learn these skills SOMEWHERE, because we've made it a social rule not to discuss these topics anywhere people might disagree. We're coming up on a few holidays, and I expect the "can't we just have a peaceful dinner and not discuss these stressful topics" to start making the annual rounds.
It's not regulations, it's society, and society isn't going away so we need to adjust it.
We literally have no practice handling differences regarding the very items people are passionate about.
The answer isn't to get into massive drama-filled flame wars, nor to drive people with minority opinions into hiding, but at the same time I don't think continuing the "enforced silence until it's considered common knowledge" is the right way to handle it.
See another comment pointing out that issues like gender equality, cognitive diversity, and workplace rights regardless of sexual preferences are ALL "political", but also directly impact the workplace. How do we decide workplace issues if not at the workplace?