Preachy anti-vaxxer at work - WWYD

[SoManyQuestionsHere]

I know it's a sensitive subject that divides opinions, hence why I'm keen to hear other people's take on it before taking more drastic action:

I'm in a senior management position at work (think: corporate setting, professional services). I know most of my colleagues' take on COVID, vaccines, masks, etc. but not all. For me personally it's a topic I'll discuss with people at work when it's either pertinent to the situation (e.g., the merits vs. risks of holding a physical meeting), when talking to people I know I don't fundamentally disagree with, or in a personal sense (e.g., "I'm struggling with X, too"). And this is what most people do here.

However, one of my employees ("Adam") is a hard-core anti-vaxxer and has turned into a bit (that's putting it mildly ... ) of a conspiracy theorist. And he's full of missionary zeal.

Adam won't stop preaching. Most of us take it in our stride most of the time - but not all. I've had to, literally, order people to get back to business topics in team calls due to Adam starting a rant and some of the other people taking the bait and a veritable bun-fight resulting.

Adam also tries to preaches to me on every possible occasion. I happen to be his boss' boss and I have informed him multiple times that a) I happen to respectfully disagree and b) am not in the least inclined to discuss this topic any further with him.

Adam especially likes to talk about this to another employee ("Brian"), who's just generally a bit of a stickler for rules and applies this to COVID, too. And Brian will be provoked into a fight. It's damaging to their relationship, and I need these guys to be able to work together. Somewhat ironically, I'm currently dealing with this mess of a team dynamic because these people's manager happens to be off sick with a serious case of COVID.

So, I'm basically inclined to discipline Adam. Not for holding the opinions he has (he's not our only anti-vaxxer) but for repeatedly disregarding my direct orders to leave the topic alone around colleagues who don't want to hear about it and thus damaging the team dynamic.

However, I don't want to create a "martyr" for the anti-vaxxers.

So, WWYD?

PS: yes, I'm biased in that I, personally, happen to think Adam is full of shit on this particular topic (he's a good employee and I really appreciate him otherwise).

Really wanting to be fair to everyone here.

Tell him he's entitled to his own opinions but discipline him for wasting other staff's time and provoking arguments.

Yeah, that's essentially my thinking, Captain.

I rather suspect I may be too soft on him due to my own fear of penalising employees for "wrong-think" (which isn't the problem at all - the problem is the preaching ...)

I reckon issue a general heads up to the whole team that ethical debates in general are not appropriate in work time, and then if Adam carries on, discipline him.

Send him to the poorly manager’s house for a coffee and to check up on him.

Let him see the damage covid does.

I worked with an anti-vaxxer. It’s tedious.

You could follow coinbase CEOs rule of no political discussion at work? www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/10/01/coinbase-wont-allow-discussions-of-politics-and-social-causes-at-work-if-employees-dont-like-it-theyre-free-to-leave/?sh=5807108e7459

I agree with the pp Why don't you ask all colleagues to try and steer away from it as a topic. Don't veto it, but ask that people don't actively strike up conversations about Covid in the workplace unless it's directly related to the business. Everyone has had a belly full of it anyway.

Everyone has had a belly full of it anyway.

Tell me about it!

But, yes, I guess "general reminder" is a good next step. I doubt it'll work on Adam, seeing as he doesn't seem to respond at all to direct, personal requests to stop - but it will create a level playing field regarding whose side this comes from.

And, yes, I think we've all had quite enough. You bet I have.

I’m a senior manager (corporate) and I would be discussing the issue with HR and MN.

And NOT MN

He needs to be told to shut the fuck up or else. Whether that's you, or HR, depends on your company, but it needs to be unequivocal. Other people have a right to work without having to listen to that crap.

Ask for his PhD in epidemiology and when he fails to produce it tell him to stick to the job and stop spreading crap.

@userperuser

I’m a senior manager (corporate) and I would be discussing the issue with HR and MN.

In the interests of being balanced, I think you need to talk to Brian too. What does ‘provoked into a fight’ actually mean? Brian needs to learn to manage his responses appropriately and professionally. So I’d be inclined to have a discussion with both of them and clearly outline your behavioral expectations of both of them.

I would ask him to keep his hobby out of the workplace, saying if he doesn't he will face a disciplinary (and have a quiet word with Brian asking him not to bite Adam's lure).

I’d clarify the position with HR.

If they agreed, my approach would be to send an email to all staff that moral discourse on covid is not permitted in the workplace at all. Then if he continued I’d discipline him. And I think the remainder of your staff will be happy. And less inclined to leave.

It’s just not an appropriate subject to be discussing in the workplace at all. We are all entitled to our views on COVID,, politics, religion, but with colleagues, the best option is to keep close counsel. Unless I am asked directly, I wouldn’t dream of sharing my view and no way would I push my thoughts on others, very unprofessional.

Most workplaces have policies around not campaigning for political causes and needing to get permission for charity collections etc., I think this definitely comes under similar policies as a "cause" so check with HR.

@userperuser

I’m a senior manager (corporate) and I would be discussing the issue with HR and MN.

Honestly, this. If he were spouting off on Brexit, or religion, or even picking fights over Bake Off, the same procedure applies. Why have you let this go on for so long?

If you are in professional services then presumably there is an HR team who could advise and probably a policy on political views at work. I would arrange a one to one with Adam,provide him with a copy off the Policy and explain that this has to stop for his own good. Regardless of his views, which he is entitled to hold, it is inappropriate to berate people at work and if it does not stop you will be referring him to HR and this may result in disciplinary action. Be very clear that this is not about his views but about the way he behaves in the work environment.

Talk to HR to make sure that Adam doesn't have any case for feeling personally victimised and talk to Brian to order him to come up with a form of words to shut any such conversation off. "I do not wish to discuss this topic with you at work." or whatever.

God, these people are so unbelievably annoying 🙈 they don’t stop either.

When adam starts ranting, mute him and carry on your team meeting with the rest of your team.

what a pain. We have several anti-vaxxers at work, all in one department, I think they feed off each other. They generally don't annoy the rest of us with their crap though, except in one meeting last week where one said something so offensive that I slightly lost my temper - I mean, I stayed professional but rebuked what they said and when they tried to reiterate it I made them move on. It was not relevant to the meeting, so it was easy, but it left me feeling really cross.