Ombuds as Antidote to Office Conflict Over Politics

Kansas State University professor Diane Swanson says that talking about politics at work isn't inherently a bad thing. "I personally think that it's good for morale for employees to feel they can have their own opinions and express them freely over coffee or on break," said the professor of management. However, she acknowledges that the fine line between the right to free speech and appropriate expression can be difficult to walk and disagreements are likely. If politics does cause workplace conflict, Swanson says that employees might want to get help from an Ombuds or conflict resolution specialist. (The Manhattan Mercury.)