>There are laws against discrimination and companies have to comply, but I don't see a good reason why this kind of topic should be addressed at the workplace.

because it is entirely unfeasible that any social problem that arises is immediately delegated to a court. workspace problems that are not necessarily criminal are most effectively solved directly where they occur. This requires that discourse at work is allowed so that information can be exchanged freely.

Carrying every conflict into a legal battle because employers don't like the fact that human interaction on occasion results in tension and is messy is quite ridiculous. You might as well start pouring Xanax into the water dispenser to calm the employees.