Tempers are flaring these days, following a heated presidential race and the election of a provocative figure to the Oval Office. If your workplace is filled with tension and controversy in the aftermath, here are some tips for employers to keep things on the cool side:

• Avoid discrimination lawsuits — Keep in mind that workplace discrimination is illegal, and that workers are entitled by law to disagree about politics. Since the law also requires an employer to act quickly and decisively against the practice of discrimination, employers should intervene to avoid escalation.
• Set and circulate policy — This is a great time to review, revise, and circulate company policies regarding political affiliation, hate speech, harassment, retaliation, and discrimination.
• Encourage respectful dialog — If the tense environment affects workplace morale or worker productivity, bring in a communications expert to teach conflict resolution skills and team building to your workforce.
• Schedule a team-building event — It might not be possible to steer workplace conversation away from post-election woes. If this is the case, take the opportunity to schedule a day of restorative and recreational activities to strengthen camaraderie among co-workers.
• Be realistic — While you might be tempted to ban the discussion of politics entirely, that is not likely to be enforceable or realistic. Instead, declare the workplace as a politically neutral environment and keep a respectful distance.

If one employee or group of employees engages in bullying, cyberbullying, threats or acts of violence against another worker due to their political beliefs, that worker can file a complaint with the EEOC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This is the office that enforces the country’s law against workplace discrimination. Any employee has the right to file a complaint with that office and employers are required to comply with any investigation that ensues.

If you are experiencing unfair or discriminatory practices in your work environment, promptly call an employment law attorney for workers. At the law offices of Hanan M. Isaacs, P.C., we offer compassionate counsel and tough advocacy. Call 609-683-7400 or contact us online to make a near-term reduced fee initial consultation in our Central Jersey offices in Kingston. We will listen to your facts, explain the law, and suggest pathways to civil and economic justice that are just right for you. Call today. You will be glad you did.