Telling a Co-Worker When a Political Rant Is Out of Line I run a small department in a midsize company. The presidential campaign has been divisive in our group, with nastiness on both sides. I tried to set an example by keeping my opinions to myself. But one of our more high-strung employees discovered (via a Google search) that I contributed to the candidate she does not support. She broadcast the news around the office and never misses an opportunity to mention it in front of clients and co-workers. When it comes to office etiquette, how do I shut her up while respecting her right of free speech? Who knew we could Google regular folks" political contributions? There went an hour of my life I'll never get back. And since when did "high strung" become a synonym for "playground bully"? Free speech does not extend to unfettered political rants in the workplace or taunting colleagues about their party affiliations. As group leader, it is your job to make that clear. So, do it. Take the problematic worker aside and speak quietly with her. Explain that antagonizing people about their politics is no way to foster business relationships, which is your mutual goal as employees of the company. Then ask her nicely to knock it off. If she persists, pass the matter to a bigger fish on the company's food chain. If no such wild salmon exists, warn her that repeated outbursts may result in tears (hers) or termination (also hers). Then work and vote in peace. Eye to Eye, Anytime I have been driving elderly voters to the polls for early voting. Yesterday, I took a woman with osteoporosis so severe that her face was parallel to the ground when she walked. What is the polite way to talk with someone in this condition? If I stand upright, I am speaking to the back of her head. But if I bend over and look at her face, I fear I am rudely drawing attention to her condition. Suggestions? Joy, Arlington, Va. Thank you for your service (and sensitivity), Joy. But it's pretty unlikely that a woman with severe osteoporosis is unaware of her condition. Bending over to speak with her will not draw her attention to anything that she is not already grappling with - all day, every day. Crouch or bend to establish eye contact with her, especially on first meeting her. It makes a powerful connection. And this is why our parents told us to look people in the eye when we shake their hands. Thereafter, stand upright, but feel free to bend occasionally to maintain your connection. If that goes well, maybe stop by to say hello from time to time, even after the polls close? Partisan Curb Appeal I rent the top floor of a two-story home. My landlord lives across the street, and we get along very well. My downstairs neighbor, who rents the other unit in the house, supports the same presidential candidate as I do, while our landlord supports the other. Weeks ago, he placed several political signs on his lawn, which is his right. But today, I noticed signs on our lawn, for candidates my downstairs neighbor and I do not support. We are only renters, but wasn't this bad manners? Do we have any rights? Angela, Peoria Heights If a man's home is his castle, surely a renter's pad is at least a minor palazzo, correct? Well, probably not as a legal matter. Some renters pay taxes and insurance, cut the grass and trim the shrubs. These folks have a stronger argument for removing lawn signs that make their skin crawl. Renters who merely mail a monthly check and leave everything else to the landlord probably have a weaker case. But because you get along with your landlord, why not skip across the street and say: "I know you support Candidate X, but Downstairs Donald and I prefer the other candidate. Can we agree to disagree and lose the lawn signs at our place? Depending on his response, plot your next step based on apartment vacancy rates in your area. A Soft Fib Many people ask who I intend to vote for in the election. I think it's none of their business. But rather than saying so, I tell them I'm undecided. Do you think that's wrong? Jayne, Florida Score one for the tactical fib. Feel free to claim indecision, as long as you are willing to suffer the slings and arrows hurled at undecided voters at this late date. Hear that, Bill Maher: cagey not stupid. But since this campaign has been grinding away since we all needed training wheels, people may think you're a tad wishy-washy. Still, you are correct: your vote is nobody's business but yours.