Dear Ms. Communicate,
This coming Friday, I have a exciting job interview for a challenging position. I am a person who is working on getting more active, which sometimes means that I might have to unavoidably leave for an afternoon if I have a meeting with an organization I'm involved with, or if there's a lecture on a really important issue (like bill c-484). By all the information I've seen, this company isn't a particularly progressive one, nor a right wing one either. How do I bring up the subject of schedule flexibility and my politics?
Sincerely,
Uncertain approach
Dear Uncertain approach,
First, I suggest you wait until the job is offered to you. You could, by way of explanation, explain that you're involved with a number of volunteer projects that sometimes require your presence during business hours.
But please know that you have NO obligation to share which organizations you're involved with and what the politics are. Since your sense is that they are not likely to share your politics, it could make more sense to leave the politics out. If it's the kind of job that you could, say, work a few extra hours for a few days, and then arrange your schedule so that you can leave at, say, 2pm on a Wednesday, without it affecting your hours worked or your job, there shouldn't be a problem if they have a flex-time policy and practice.
But, when starting a new job (good luck with the interview by the way!) employers can sometimes be less impressed when a prospective employee asks for special exceptions and favours right away, especially before the probation period.
Only you can judge the kind of "workplace culture" that exists, from both the manner/style of the interview and the workplace when you get in there. Even if they're mainstream or right wing, they may be relaxed and laid back. Or not.
Ms. C.
