Throughout the day, I am bombarded with political biases, be they right or left, Democrat or Republican, or occasionally a third-party. I will be asked questions and expected to give an opinion. For the most part, these questions come from family or friends, and I feel perfectly fine with answering those questions. Sometimes, I will see something on the social media platforms I visit that are politically motivated, and I will share my opinion on the subject.
There are moments, however, when I must be careful about having a public opinion about something political. In those times, I must be ‘non-political’ during a time that my country is heavily partisan and vocal about its politics.
I should note here, thanks to a friends’ observations: this does not mean I am apolitical or do not care about issues. I don’t believe you can be apolitical in our current climate and still be a functioning human being. I care very strongly about my politics. I am also under heavy restrictions where they are concerned.
I must explain, every time I must refrain from giving an opinion: I must follow the rules of the Hatch Act.
To provide context: The Hatch Act of 1939 prevents federal officials from endorsing or voicing politically biased opinions when performing their duties as a federal official. Specifically, it applies to members of the executive branch, but broadly, it applies to people who work for an organization with government backing. If you’re in uniform, you cannot give your opinion on political matters, because you’d be giving an endorsement of a bias. This, in turn, would mean that the organization you represent (through your uniform) also endorses your bias.
Sounds a bit crazy but trust me: litigation can get that in-depth. I was a Union Steward for two years; I’ve used this exact kind of legal language in my grievance negotiations.
Now, when I am not on-duty and not in uniform, I can speak freely. I usually do and gleefully dive into the discussions that grow from such moments. I am very vocal about my politics, so long as I do not represent my organization.
(You’ll notice how careful I am about naming my workplace. It doesn’t take much effort to know who I work for but refraining from naming them in this essay gives me the loophole I need to talk about these things.)
I have to be very patient with customers during working hours to provide facts without seeming politically biased. This is harder than it sounds, since giving such information can, to the customers, put me within a particular camp without me saying anything that is actually biased to one side or another.
To give you more context, let’s look at the COVID-19 pandemic. As a federal official, I explain to customers approaching me that we must, as per CDC regulations, maintain social distance and wear masks. I have mine at-the-ready for such an occasion. One of my customers told me that I was an idiot for following such regulations, and that I had to be a “dirty liberal nutcase” for doing so.
I’m used to getting yelled at during my job. People aren’t happy about a lot of things that have to do with my job, and I’m generally quiet and passive about these outbursts. It’s generally best to just let the customer air their grievance so I can thoroughly and logically address their problems. But when this happens, my nerves go on ‘high-alert’ and I make sure to phrase my responses accordingly. As a member of the executive branch, I’m held to a higher standard and all the bullshit that comes with such. It’d be all too easy for me to begin explaining something, have it sound biased, and that customer to have their phone out, recording.
If that were to happen, I’d be up for discipline at the least, or fired outright. There was a moment when, in a public setting after work, I was in uniform and talking politics with a close friend, and a bystander took out their phone as if to record when I told them, bluntly, to not do so. It is the sort of situation that can make someone a bit paranoid.
Now, as my organization is drawn further into the media spotlight, I am asked more often to give my opinion on political matters. These questions are earnest. My opinion is honestly sought after, so I don’t fault the person asking. But it puts me in a precarious situation, or as I’ve said to friends, I’m dealing with the existential crisis that is my job becoming political while I am restricted from being so.
I want to talk about the issues that surround my day-job, folks. I have concerns and worries. Unfortunately, I am held to a higher standard than others and must follow the rules of the Hatch Act. I always tell people “ask me when I’m out of uniform or not representing my organization”. I would gladly dive into the discussions at those times, but only then.
Until this extremely partisan time is beyond us, I must maintain a non-political stance. I can only ask for understanding during this time.
Swift's Corner 