Office Party Lines

New Jersey attorney Gregg Salka was quoted by the New York Post in the October 29 article “Office Party Lines.” The article noted that in the heat of election season, it can be impossible to avoid awkward, even offensive, political discussions with colleagues. Gregg pointed out that seemingly innocent political commentary can be perceived as discriminatory or harassing. “When you start discussing one of the candidate’s views on immigration, for example, an individual might feel uncomfortable even if they’re not a part of the conversation.” He added that if an employer encourages political talk it can become a breeding ground for future lawsuits, as well as a surefire way to decrease employee morale and productivity. “The safest route is to just not discuss political topics at all in the workplace.”