How to handle political talk at work

PITTSBURGH — You might want to be careful about getting your Bern on in the lunch room or stumping for Trump at the water cooler.

With the presidential election year upon us, and a spirited one at that, political talk in the office probably is inevitable.

Of the more than 1,000 workers who responded to a recent online poll by the staffing firm Accountemps, 56 percent thought that political discussions could get heated and offend others.

The divide is greater among women, with 66 percent saying political talk could get heated and offend others.

A majority of workers — 52 percent — under the age of 35 thought such discussions helped to keep workers informed, while 61 percent of those age 35 or older felt they had the potential to offend.

Given the results, you might want to weigh your words when you wade into political conversations, said Carrie Haglund, vice president of Accountemps, a division of Robert Half, a staffing agency with 330 offices worldwide.

Even if you can’t resist the urge to share your political views at work, you want to make sure the talk — whether at the water cooler, your desk or at an office social — doesn’t become as rancorous as a Republican presidential debate.