Politics, Religion and Sex

  WOW! Today's title really caught your attention, didn't it? That's because those three words stir a lot of emotion. They're simply hot-button issues. And that's the reason you should NEVER discuss these subjects at work. While we all have opinions and are entitled to them, it's not wise to voice them in a work environment. I'm sure there are other subjects that maybe your employer doesn't want you to talk about such as salary or position. Those also can cause some discourse between co-workers. But lets take a quick look at the things I mentioned.
 Because your political opinion may differ from other associates or clients, people sometimes want to persuade you to think the way they do. Things can escalate when they feel quite strongly, especially in an election year or when there are important issues on the ballot. Think about your ideas on an issue you care about...do you feel as if the other side is not getting the right information? Do you feel that if they'd just listen to this particular argument, they'd change their mind? Now, think of  how things can get out of hand, just because you want to convince someone how important this issue is. Or vice-versa.
As far as religion goes, I recently witnessed a "laying on of hands" situation in a retail establishment. An associate felt led to pray for a customer, and before the customer knew what was happening, she was caught in an uncomfortable moment. The other associates and customers were clearly uncomfortable, as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm a woman of faith myself. But there is a time and place for that and even if you feel led to pray for someone at that moment, do it silently, or excuse yourself and do it in private.
On the subject of sex, it's just plain in poor taste to discuss such things at work. No one wants to walk in a conversation about personal things and it can be very embarrassing for both the customer and the associates involved. I know that when you work with people for a period of time, friendships sometimes develop and we tend to reveal intimate details to close friends. But again, there is a time and place for those subjects and it isn't in the workplace.
As I said before, these are hot-button issues and in retail, your purpose is to please the customer, not to express your views. It's best to stick to light conversation while at work.