Managing Politics in the Workplace

Managing Politics in the Workplace

Talking about politics in the workplace has increased by 26 percent since 2016 and over 46 percent of people admit to discussing politics in the workplace.

Conversations about politics can become disruptive and affect productivity in the workplace. Political views are very personal and diverse, and conversations can become heated and unproductive. 

Here are some ways to manage politics in the workplace:

• Recognize that the workplace is a diverse environment, and people have different opinions - Diversity is to be supported.  If people in the workplace, with different cultures, are encouraged to interact and share ideas, they are less likely to have conflicts, even with regard to politics.

• Maintain a safe zone – People can become emotional when discussing politics, and this can cause friction and lead to negative views among coworkers.

• Anticipate Emotions – This is going to be an emotional election with the pandemic and the current atmosphere of the country. Employees are going to have opinions and reactions. The manager needs to be knowledgeable of any policies which speak to the inappropriate expression of emotion. You want to be aware of the consequences of outbursts should you need to address them.  This policy should be also be reviewed and known by employees.

• Limit Social Media - Employees should refrain from posting or discussing politics on the employer’s social media channels. These can be misconstrued as company viewpoints and can lead to conflict that may cause other consequences.  Also, keep in mind that not all that is online or written is factual. There are many altered stories, pictures and videos that appear legitimate but are not.

• Remember it is personal – Political views are personal, and people become invested in their views and beliefs.  Employees should respect each other and differences of opinion. 

Sources

SHRM.org Handling Politics and the Pandemic in the Workplace (2020). Retrieved From https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/people-managers/pages/pandemic-and-politics-.aspx

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