As we all know, the political tension in our country is at an all-time high. This can be a difficult time for many businesses, as people are quick to jump to conclusions and take sides.
If you own a dental office, it is important to take steps to prevent political tension from becoming a problem in your workplace. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips for doing just that!
Understand Your Role As a Business Owner
Preventing political tension starts with understanding your role as a business owner and setting boundaries before staff get too comfortable. In these divisive times, it's more important than ever to make sure your workplace is a politics-free zone.
After all, you don't want to end up like that poor guy in HR who had to mediate a heated argument between employees about the pros and cons of single-payer healthcare. To avoid such workplace disasters, here are a few ways you can encourage employees to keep their politics to themselves:
Establish Ground Rules
Make it clear from the outset that political discussions are off-limits during work hours. This will help to prevent any misunderstandings or hurt feelings down the line. This is something that should happen during the onboarding process for new employees, as well as being reinforced on an ongoing basis.
If you have a suggestion box or employee forum, let staff know that political topics are not appropriate for these channels either.
Lead By Example
If you want your employees to avoid political arguments, then you need to set the tone by avoiding them yourself. Choose your words carefully when talking about sensitive topics, and be sure to respect other people's opinions, even if you don't agree with them since, after all, we're all adults here.
Encourage Open Communication
If someone does feel strongly about a political issue, encourage them to talk to you about it in private. This way, you can have a calm and reasoned discussion without disrupting the peace of the workplace.
In reality, these conversations don't really have a place at all in the workspace. But if you suspect just letting someone vent will help calm them down and focus on their work, then perhaps let them vent privately to you. This will be a judgment call.
Set Consequences
If employees cannot follow the rules, then there need to be consequences in place. This could be a warning for first-time offenders, followed by disciplinary action if the problem persists. No one wants to lose their job over a political disagreement, so this should be enough to encourage most people to toe the line.
Offer Alternatives
If an employee is having trouble letting go of their political beliefs, suggest ways that they can get involved outside of work, such as volunteering for a local campaign or attending a protest march on their own time.
Be tolerant
We all have our own opinions, and sometimes they can differ quite significantly from those of our colleagues. Try to be understanding and remember that everyone is entitled to their own point of view. By following these simple tips, you can help to ensure that your workplace remains a haven from the political turmoil of the outside world.
Final Thoughts
By following these tips, you can help create an environment where political discussion is welcome without fear of conflict. Creating a respectful and open workplace will benefit everyone involved and help to prevent tension from escalating.
And next time you're on the hunt for qualified dental staff, Stynt can help! We connect dental professionals with great jobs in a matter of minutes, so you can get back to focusing on what's important - running a practice.