You're Making Me Uncomfortable! Tensions in the Workplace - A Roundtable Discussion, Sponsored by Fisher Phillips

We strive to create a workplace where everyone feels safe bringing their “entire authentic self” to work. Sounds great, in theory. In application, however, this approach inevitably leads to tension within the workplace. The tension might arise from vaccine mandates, social media content, message board chats, watercooler talk, or other topics about which people tend to have strongly held positions and beliefs. How do we handle these uncomfortable conversations and the very real risks, legal and otherwise, that arise from them? How do we address the growing tensions in the workplace? Should we try to create a place or forum in the workplace where workers can feel safe expressing their personal views on important social topics?

For this roundtable discussion, we asked our participants three questions:
1. Can you share a personal experience about an uncomfortable conversation involving tension in the workplace?
2. Do you have a practical suggestion or tip addressing this increasingly common circumstance?
3. What challenging question would you like the roundtable to discuss?

WARNING: This program, like the topics your employees regularly discuss, may make you uncomfortable. Our participants do not all agree on every challenging topic of the day. And you, most likely, will not agree with everything our participants say. Prepare to be uncomfortable. And prepare to learn from the discomfort.

PA CLE and HRCI/SHRM credits are available for this program.