Addressing Political Tensions in the Workplace During an Election Year
Differing political opinions are affecting worldwide workplace dynamics. The analysis below reveals the significant impact on employee retention across the US, especially among younger generations and people of color. Read below for the steps we recommend to manage polarizing politics in the workforce:
Focus on Values: Company values likely attracted employees to your organization. Emphasizing such core values can be a unifying force that mitigates political differences. Reinforce the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect in achieving common goals. Establish frameworks like ModelExpand's COMPASS, which guides managers in aligning actions with organizational values. Additionally, distribute a Manager Toolkit for difficult conversations that offers examples and responses to scenarios related to current events.
Set Clear Expectations: Employers can define communication expectations that align with company values. One way to do this is by outlining them in the employee handbook or code of conduct. Within the handbook, be clear about expectations around politics regarding interpersonal conduct, social media, and virtual backgrounds. Socialize the guidelines within internal channels before election campaigns intensify. In the words of Alex King, Vice President of Legal at Indeed, “The idea is to spell out, ‘in this workplace, we’re expecting people to be inclusive and to not engage in behavior that is harassing or bullying or that makes others feel excluded." The key is emphasizing inclusivity and empathy at the forefront of communication with others, ensuring universal policies apply without discrimination based on political beliefs.
Be Proactive - Start Early: We've received several requests from clients for mitigating internal conflicts, especially with employers that have employees in both corporate and non-corporate environments (i.e., retail, manufacturing). We encourage clients to initiate training and coaching sessions for leaders on navigating the election year to proactively prevent or address tensions. A critical piece to enhance a manager's confidence in handling challenging situations is providing scripts or role-playing exercises to avoid escalation.
Lead by Example: Leaders should demonstrate impartiality and neutrality when discussing political topics in the workplace. They should model respectful behavior and refrain from expressing personal opinions that could create division among employees. For example, if a team member were to reference a political candidate during a team meeting, a manager could say: "I appreciate your engagement, but as a company, we aim to maintain a neutral stance on political matters. Let's focus on our work and respect each other's diverse viewpoints. We're all here to contribute to our shared goals, regardless of our political affiliations."
Provide Support Resources: Offer resources such as counseling services or employee assistance programs to support employees who may feel stressed or overwhelmed by political tensions in the workplace. Ensure employees know where to turn for assistance if needed.
The impact of differing political opinions on workplace dynamics is profound and cannot be ignored. Leverage core values as a unifying force, set clear communication expectations, provide tools and resources for navigating difficult conversations, and ensure that leaders model impartiality and inclusivity. By taking proactive steps and offering support resources, companies can create a more harmonious and inclusive work environment, where diverse viewpoints are respected, and employees feel valued and supported. If you're unsure how to prepare, contact us for a complimentary consultation. We work with clients on leadership coaching, communications strategy, and in-the-moment toolkits to help organizations prepare and mitigate risk.
About ModelExpand
ModelExpand is a strategic workplace advisory firm that helps companies put their ideals into action. We partner with organizations to implement, operationalize, and scale their Culture and People initiatives in a way that improves performance across the organization. The ModelExpand team is composed of people from all walks of life. The diversity of the team’s lived experiences, robust industry knowledge, and research acumen fuel ModelExpand’s innovative and tailored solutions. ModelExpand’s work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes and CultureAmp.