Elections are always a big deal in Nigeria, especially if the incumbent government hasn't done well in the time past. Most times the presidential election is always a major concern in the heart of Nigerians, though some states do take their gubernatorial election seriously too. But irrespective of the election that matters to you, as a worker in a company or firm there are some things you should say to your coworkers during this election period in Nigeria.
Avoid discussing politics altogether: Politics can be a divisive topic that can lead to heated arguments and hurt feelings. It's best to keep your political beliefs to yourself or limit your discussions to close friends and family members outside of the workplace.
Don't assume your coworkers' political affiliations: Making assumptions about someone's political beliefs based on their race, gender, religion, or other personal characteristics can be offensive and lead to misunderstandings.
Avoid name-calling or personal attacks: Disagreements over politics can quickly escalate into personal attacks. It's important to remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to respect others' beliefs even if you don't agree with them.
Don't pressure your coworkers to vote a certain way: It's not your place to tell your coworkers how to vote, and doing so can create an uncomfortable and hostile work environment.
Avoid discussing politics during work hours: While it's natural to want to discuss current events with your coworkers, it's important to remember that everyone is there to work. Discussing politics during work hours can be distracting and counterproductive.
Overall, it's best to approach political discussions with caution and respect for your coworkers' opinions and beliefs. Remember that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and that it's possible to have a civil and respectful discussion without resorting to name-calling or personal attacks.
1. Respect the decision of the other person: always remember that elections or voting exercise is personal, which is a reason why you should respect the other person's decision. When discussing political views with either your boss or coworker, remember it is not a do-or-die affair. Everyone has a reason for supporting whomever they are supporting, such a time of discussion is a normal time to rub minds together.
Try as much as possible to avoid hostility, harassment, and any form of violence, because if that happens, it's a sign you are not respecting the opinion of the other party. Another way to respect the opinion of your colleague or boss is to accept any response you get. For instance, if Mr. A asks Mr. B whom is he supporting, and Mr. B said, I will like to keep it to myself, just respect the decision and leave it there. If your political views aren't supported or it's becoming a scene for violence, then you can report it to the HR of the company.
2. Know when the conversation is getting hot: as I have said above, the election period is always a period of tension, and if the discussions are not handled well, it can lead to violence. Whomever you are having a political discussion with, be on alert to know when the discussion is becoming hot and back out. The way you will end such discussion matters, ending it just anyhow can lead to a negative end.
You can just say, you don't want to talk about it again or find any calm and polite statement to make, just to ease the tension and also end the conversation. Also, remember that you might not have more words than your colleague or boss, which can make your increase your anger. So, the best you can do is to be calm and politely end the conversation, it will save you a lot of water stress.
3. Set healthy boundaries: These types of boundaries will help you answer if you can hear another person’s political views. If you are the type of person who will probably get upset, whenever someone is saying something different from what you have in your mind or contrary to what you believe. You need to work with your healthy boundaries.
This frequently entails refraining from having any political conversations. And if a political subject is brought up in a meeting or on a phone conversation, you might gently respond, "I respect your point of view, but I want to refocus on work."
Making any firm "rules and practices in place" that deal with talking politics at work publicly known is one approach to ensure that these limits aren't crossed before or after the election if you're a manager attempting to establish healthy boundaries for your team.
The work environment should be strictly for work, and not a place where political views or opinions are shared. The sanity of a work environment or between coworkers can be maintained if the right things are discussed at the time.
source : https://hubforjobs.com/5-things-not-to-say-to-your-coworkers-during-this-election-period-in-nigeria
What are the things you should not say to your coworkers during this election?
When dealing with your coworker there are things you should be cautious of, even in this election period. You will agree that the period of elections, is always a tense period for so many which is why you will need to be cautious of the type of things you should avoid saying to your coworkers.Avoid discussing politics altogether: Politics can be a divisive topic that can lead to heated arguments and hurt feelings. It's best to keep your political beliefs to yourself or limit your discussions to close friends and family members outside of the workplace.
Don't assume your coworkers' political affiliations: Making assumptions about someone's political beliefs based on their race, gender, religion, or other personal characteristics can be offensive and lead to misunderstandings.
Avoid name-calling or personal attacks: Disagreements over politics can quickly escalate into personal attacks. It's important to remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to respect others' beliefs even if you don't agree with them.
Don't pressure your coworkers to vote a certain way: It's not your place to tell your coworkers how to vote, and doing so can create an uncomfortable and hostile work environment.
Avoid discussing politics during work hours: While it's natural to want to discuss current events with your coworkers, it's important to remember that everyone is there to work. Discussing politics during work hours can be distracting and counterproductive.
Overall, it's best to approach political discussions with caution and respect for your coworkers' opinions and beliefs. Remember that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and that it's possible to have a civil and respectful discussion without resorting to name-calling or personal attacks.
How to handle a boss or coworker with a different political view
In the world we find ourselves in, one of the freedoms everyone has is freedom of speech, which we can term to be that, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. When it comes to political views it is important to know how to deal with either boss or coworker.1. Respect the decision of the other person: always remember that elections or voting exercise is personal, which is a reason why you should respect the other person's decision. When discussing political views with either your boss or coworker, remember it is not a do-or-die affair. Everyone has a reason for supporting whomever they are supporting, such a time of discussion is a normal time to rub minds together.
Try as much as possible to avoid hostility, harassment, and any form of violence, because if that happens, it's a sign you are not respecting the opinion of the other party. Another way to respect the opinion of your colleague or boss is to accept any response you get. For instance, if Mr. A asks Mr. B whom is he supporting, and Mr. B said, I will like to keep it to myself, just respect the decision and leave it there. If your political views aren't supported or it's becoming a scene for violence, then you can report it to the HR of the company.
2. Know when the conversation is getting hot: as I have said above, the election period is always a period of tension, and if the discussions are not handled well, it can lead to violence. Whomever you are having a political discussion with, be on alert to know when the discussion is becoming hot and back out. The way you will end such discussion matters, ending it just anyhow can lead to a negative end.
You can just say, you don't want to talk about it again or find any calm and polite statement to make, just to ease the tension and also end the conversation. Also, remember that you might not have more words than your colleague or boss, which can make your increase your anger. So, the best you can do is to be calm and politely end the conversation, it will save you a lot of water stress.
3. Set healthy boundaries: These types of boundaries will help you answer if you can hear another person’s political views. If you are the type of person who will probably get upset, whenever someone is saying something different from what you have in your mind or contrary to what you believe. You need to work with your healthy boundaries.
This frequently entails refraining from having any political conversations. And if a political subject is brought up in a meeting or on a phone conversation, you might gently respond, "I respect your point of view, but I want to refocus on work."
Making any firm "rules and practices in place" that deal with talking politics at work publicly known is one approach to ensure that these limits aren't crossed before or after the election if you're a manager attempting to establish healthy boundaries for your team.
Why is discussing Politics at work not a good idea?
Discussing politics at work is generally not a good idea because it can lead to several negative consequences:- It can create a hostile work environment: Political discussions can quickly become heated and divisive, leading to tension and conflict between coworkers. This can create a hostile work environment where employees feel uncomfortable or even harassed.
- It can damage relationships with coworkers: Political discussions can cause rifts between coworkers who may have differing opinions or beliefs. This can damage relationships and make it difficult to work together effectively.
- It can distract from work: Political discussions can be time-consuming and distracting, taking employees' attention away from their work and reducing productivity.
- It can create legal issues: Employers have a responsibility to maintain a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Discussing politics can lead to situations where employees feel discriminated against or harassed based on their political beliefs, which can create legal issues for the employer.
How to avoid political conversations at work
If you want to avoid discussing politics at work, here are some tips:- Set boundaries: Make it clear to your coworkers that you prefer not to discuss politics at work. If a coworker tries to engage you in a political discussion, politely decline and redirect the conversation to a work-related topic.
- Avoid political discussions: If you overhear a political conversation happening among coworkers, try to distance yourself from it. Move to a different location or focus on your work to avoid getting pulled into the conversation.
- Stay neutral: If you do find yourself in a political conversation, try to stay neutral and avoid taking sides. Listen to what others have to say and acknowledge their opinions without expressing your own.
- Focus on work-related topics: When engaging in conversations with coworkers, focus on work-related topics rather than personal or political ones. This can help to keep the conversation productive and avoid potential conflicts.
- Be respectful: Even if you disagree with a coworker's political beliefs, it's important to be respectful and professional. Avoid name-calling or personal attacks and focus on the issues at hand.
In conclusion
One of the things that have caused riots and chaos during elections are the words spoken by one party to another, and the chaos does happen among fans of each party. One thing that is believed to be made clear is to avoid speaking or talking about things that can raise problems in any work environment.The work environment should be strictly for work, and not a place where political views or opinions are shared. The sanity of a work environment or between coworkers can be maintained if the right things are discussed at the time.
source : https://hubforjobs.com/5-things-not-to-say-to-your-coworkers-during-this-election-period-in-nigeria