Rule Of Thumb: Talking Politics In The Workplace
Luis Alvarez
As politics becomes increasingly polarized, the frequency of political discussion in the workplace has intensified. With no foreseeable end to the political divide within our nation, employers and their employers must navigate potentially disruptive and inappropriate demonstrations of politically driven speech to guarantee a productive and collaborative working environment.
The American Psychological Association released survey results that captured employees' thoughts and feelings on political discussion in the workplace after the 2016 election season. More than 1 in 4 employees, ages 18 to 34, reported feeling stressed, argumentative, and less productive because of political discussions on the job. Those who reported feeling this way also felt more isolated from their colleagues, had a more negative view of them, and had experienced an increase in workplace hostility. “Twenty percent of participants reported avoiding some coworkers because of their political views…fifty-four percent of American workers said they avoid discussing politics with colleagues altogether.”
However, 47% of the participants said that the 2016 election made them more likely to discuss politics in the workplace than in past elections. Since this survey, the frequency of political conversation, from at the dinner table to the breakroom at work, has increased. More people are engaged in politics and, therefore, opinionated. 2020 was no exception to contributing to this. With this year's focus on the pandemic, racial justice, and a polarizing election it is an emotional time for everyone. In this environment, political thoughts and discussions in the workplace are bound to happen.
Humans’ ability to learn from each other through experience, observation, and instruction is an evolutionary advantage. We inherently stick together and build trust within our group to survive. Humans innately want to fit into a group, whether the group is race, religion, social class, sports team, or political party. This is attributed to the social identity theory, in which a person’s sense of who they are is based on their group membership(s). Being a member of a group gives us a sense of belonging in the social world and influences how we think about the world. Since our political opinion is so closely intertwined with our self-identity, most people feel personally threatened when their beliefs are challenged.
How does the quality of individuals’ work change when they feel, or their opinions feel, threatened by those they work with?
When threatened, we are less likely to think broadly and more likely to think defensively. When we spend time defending ourselves and disagreeing with others, it hinders our collaboration which ultimately stunts problem-solving and innovation in the workforce. The negative attitudes associated with feeling intimidated at work tend to cause less effective customer service, decreased productivity and quality of work, less interest in self-improvement, and unwillingness to go above and beyond in roles.
How do we calm down a work environment that has become politically opinionated?
First, it is important to understand why achieving a calm work environment is critical to the success of any worker and enterprise. Being able to work collaboratively and without feeling jeopardized by others allows for more productivity and innovation. We often overlook how many interpersonal relationships in the workplace matter to evaluation and the flow of information. Fear that one’s employment or social status in the workplace is at risk because of their political beliefs can discourage an employee from contributing their perspective to the group, and ultimately obstruct ingenuity. Maintaining a work environment where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and having constructive discussions strengthens the organization as a whole.
It is necessary to acknowledge that there is at least one commonality among coworkers with varying political views: the job. Whatever the mission of the company is, each employee continues to work because they want to achieve that shared mission. Employees can successfully work through politically opinionated environments by setting aside differences and focusing on the common tasks at hand. Understanding that there is a common goal can encourage each employee to maintain respect for one another.
Another important factor to consider in these divisive times is thinking about how you want to be perceived among your peers. Heidi Brooks Ph.D., who studies organizational behavior and pioneered the course Everyday Leadership at Yale School of Management, asks you to consider your personal values. “Who’s the person that you want to be in these conversations and these moments?” Acting out when you feel personally victimized will likely lead to negative consequences. Instead, we have to find a way to not let our fears and anxieties get the best of us, and act wisely and respectfully. Our social interactions with coworkers are integral to reaching the goal; so preserving these relationships is key.
Taking the time to think introspectively in these situations can help prevent escalating negative feelings at work. One may ask themself questions such as: Why do I care about maintaining a positive relationship with my coworkers? How will a change in this relationship affect my productivity and quality of work? Articulating empathy and the fact that we care about our coworkers and their contributions, despite politically disagreeing, is critical to remaining productive as a workforce.
How can employers ethically and appropriately mitigate conversations in the workplace about politics?
Emotional intelligence, or the ability to understand and manage your emotions and those of the people around you, should be emphasized in the workplace. A strong understanding of EQ guides employers and employees on how to be conscious of their thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions when in a heated conversation.
At work, each person’s voice should be respected. Doing this in a political sense could mean encouraging people to vote and giving time off to vote without repercussions. Employers and managers should promote overall wellness. Physical and mental health can easily be impacted by stress - and there is a lot in our world to be stressed about. Ultimately, an organization cannot function at its highest level without healthy employees. Creating an environment where the individual knows that, as a whole, they are cared about is essential to maintaining a healthy and productive work mentality.
This past year the physical work environment for the majority has changed drastically. How can the political expression of opinions be kept from interfering with employee relationships while individuals work online and remotely?
Social media usage and online communication have increased as individuals work from home. At the same time, our online following has grown to include personal and professional connections. As many people use platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to freely share personal opinions, it becomes more likely for anyone within our network to sense our point of view. Employers should encourage smart social media usage of all their employees. This means everyone within the organization should understand the possible harm that comes along with a politically opinionated post. Ideally, employees should refrain from posting anything that has the potential to make coworkers uncomfortable. Employers and managers should demonstrate how to enable security features on social media to minimize coworkers from reading these posts. This still allows for freedom of expression, while respectfully deterring conflict.
The potential for political discussion in the workplace to do harm is there. Our opinions, feelings, and stressors are not going away anytime soon. Acknowledging our values and the commonalities we do have with our coworkers can help to maintain respect for each other. Employers and managers can help facilitate ethical ways of communication about differences and endorse wellness to overcome negative feelings at work.
