These 8 tips will stop you getting into a political row at work

Is it okay to talk about politics at work'It's a tricky question and the answer relies heavily on what you do for a living and the relationship you have with your colleagues.While it is generally a good thing that people are involved in politics and are expressing opinions, it might not be in your best interests to get into a raging argument at work with someone who does not share your views.In the current political climate, and with the general election fast approaching on June 8, topics such as immigration, the NHS, education, and Brexit are all going to be popular discussions.You spend many hours of the day at work, so it's inevitable someone in the office will broadcast theiropinion. Unfortunately, this is out of your control. What you can control is how you handle the situation.Here are eight ways of keeping the argument at bay.1. Avoid party politics.According to Sarah O'Neill, who is the director of HR at Digital Trends, it can be really easy to get sucked into aright versus left debate."Have employees, instead, discuss big-picture concepts, specific ballot measures, or general concern," she wrote for an article in Forbes. "Encourage them to talk about how they would be affected by changes in order to help explain why they are concerned about specifics."This way, it is easier to see both sides of the debate and discussions are more likely to be constructive. People can get very fired up when it comes to the identity of the political party they support, so sticking to the facts and issues can help everyone educate each other.2. Understand why conflict arises.It is useful to get to the bottom of why conflict arises. Usually, according to Juliet Hailstone, product marketing manager at HR company MHR, it comes from people having different objectives, opinions, interpretations of a situation, or views of what is acceptable behaviour."Political discussion is often an emotionally rooted affair, with strong ideological roots, possible immediate impact on family situations, even immediate impact on work situations and living standards," she said in an email to BI.3. Be respectful.Political opinions tend to be a personal matter, so it is important to treat peoples' views and opinions with respect.O'Neill wrote in the Forbes article that everyone has a right to believe what they do, and they have their own reasons. By treating everyone with the same level of respect, opinions are more likely to be shared without things getting nasty.Hailstone agrees that you might not understand how a person can have the opinions they do, but the best way of trying is by listening."You may not agree with everything they say but you need to understand that to them, their view is correct and is rooted in inherited and developed life influences that you will probably never understand," she said.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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