BUTTONS 4 LESS ARTICLES
Political Buttons: Not Safe For Work?
Many people wear political buttons to show support for a cause or candidates. But the wearing of political buttons gets tricky in the workplace. Wearers are advised to proceed with caution when it comes to mixing work and political buttons.
Political buttons have been an established part of the U.S. political scene for more than 200 years. Supporters of George Washington wore the first, which actually were clothing buttons, at his inauguration in 1789. Buttons that showed an actual photographic likeness of the candidates came into play around the time of Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 campaign.
The presidential race between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan in 1896 saw the first widespread use of campaign buttons as we know them today. This race featured what is widely considered to be one of the most powerful political addresses ever given, Bryan’s legendary "Cross of Gold" speech. Although a great orator, Bryan lost the election to McKinley.
Presidential elections have generated many iconic custom buttons over the years. Slogans such as "In your heart, you know he’s right," featured on a 1964 Barry Goldwater button, make great short, pithy statements that resonate with voters. So did the Lyndon Johnson campaign’s "In your guts, you know he’s nuts," response.
Many workplaces, however, frown on displays of political partisanship at work, and often for good reason. Especially in customer service positions, wearing a button declaring one’s allegiance to a particular candidate or position can easily alienate paying customers who favor the opposite side. Although the button might not represent the viewpoint of the business or its owner, there’s a danger such customers could associate the button with the organization and never return.
In addition, such declarations of political affiliation may clash with coworkers who hold opposing viewpoints as well. That can lead to unpleasant workplace friction and potentially lower productivity.
There are exceptions, of course. Some businesses encourage political activity. And political advocacy groups aren’t likely to object to staff members wearing buttons supporting the organization’s position.
Political buttons can be a relatively low-key way to declare one’s political allegiance. But wearers should exercise discretion when considering whether to wear them at work.