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Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
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Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#92Ever since the infamous "diversity memo," (which I disagree with,) I've gotten the impression that political discussions at Google turned toxic.
A well run company includes people with diverse political views points. A workplace that's hostile to anyone who leans right or leans left ultimately hurts diversity.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your attempt to argue this is somehow vague or a slippery slope is silly - most workplaces seem to have not a tremendous amount of trouble with this, even though it is not rigorously defined.
Agreed. I am transgender, lesbian, asexual and polyromantic, and none of these things have I ever had so much as a discussion about at my office, nor have they sparked any 'political' discussion. (I work at one of the major 5 banks in Canada).
Are you saying it's possible to be gainfully employed somewhere where the wokeness level isn't cranked to 11 and not be persecuted by cis-gen whitemale Christian bigots? Who knew?
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#94No debate, just get in line.
A good employee is a quiet employee.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because political discussions are incredibly polarizing, specially these days, and once they are allowed they pulverize the company into factions that cannot work together until the more strident or powerful of these factions takes over and pushes everybody else out or into silence. And when this happens, you have an homogeneous political body as the gatekeeper to the worlds information. What could go wrong?
So the key to a diverse organization is not talking about politics? Seems unlikely.
Really, maybe focus on what you have in common and not what's different -- people have a lot more in common and agree about a lot more things than they realize.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#96It's funny how we pigeonhole "things that actually matter" as "politics" and that those things are somehow taboo. I mean, what's MORE worth talking about than human rights, the environment, history, etc.?
Well, that depends what you regard as important. Many of the things I'd guess you regard as important I don't, and vice-versa. Who decides? Why are you the arbiter of what's "obviously" important? That's a fallacious appeal to common knowledge.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
At work? A lot of other things.
Even if your place of work has a hand and a demonstrably relevant position in a lot of global political discussions?
That's really the crux of the issue. I agree that people should probably leave most of their personal beliefs at home... unless it's something that directly related to what the company is doing. So Google employees are supposed to just shut up or leave?
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#98No shit. I guess Google can no longer assume that there is a single correct world view that all good and smart people hold. Who knew.
I am pretty sure they still assume that. Discussing that particular 'single correct world view' will be labeled 'common sense' and allowed, discussing all and any dissenting views will be labeled 'political' and will get you fired.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think they overestimated just how willing certain people are to not do their jobs and sit around arguing while being paid.
If timewasting was the problem, wouldn't they be clamping down on all unproductive conversation, not merely the political? I mean, wasting 10 minutes is wasting 10 minutes, whether I'm talking about politics or football or TV.
But one is just unproductive (you being idle) the other one is counterproductive (you upset others and divert their attention) and multiply the counter-productivity.
Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore
#100Why shouldn’t employees of the company with the goal of organizing all the worlds information debate politics? Everything is political. Especially information.
Because they have work to do. That's why they're there.
It would be up to the details of their individuals contracts. It would be possible for someone's contract to either directly (unlikely) or indirectly (far more likely) allow for debating of politics to some degree. That freedom would be part of their compensation package, though one often not considered in simple models. I think Google is realizing they have undervalued the cost to them of allowing such an action and want to renegotiate. Since it is likely an indirect benefit, this would largely be done by changing corporate rules and culture concerning politics where workers could respond in numerous ways.
While it is possible for a contract specifying 8 hours of work without a single thought other than work (and any legally mandated breaks) in exchange for the given salary and benefits, I've never seen any organization that actually operated using such contracts.