Most employees (63%) care “at least a little” about politics, and about a third (35%) admit to openly discussing politics at work, according to an online survey recently conducted by Indeed and Harris Poll.
But that’s where they draw the line, especially with regard to work meetings. More than half (54%) of the 1,141 U.S. adults surveyed said they’re uncomfortable with political talk during the meetings, Indeed reported in analysis posted Aug. 14.
Respondents also expressed discomfort about subtle political messages showing up during remote meetings, such as when campaign stickers, mugs or other kinds of political party support paraphernalia appear in the background of a video conference, the survey found.
Employers need to address these concerns to curb potential performance and engagement problems, Indeed indicated: 34% of employees believe political discussions have had a negative impact on team morale, according to the survey.
Retention is also an issue. Nearly 40% of Gen Z and millennial workers (ages 18-34) said they would leave a job because of political differences at work, and 40% said they would leave if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with, according to the survey.
Overall, 28% of workers would consider resigning over political differences, and 32% might leave if the CEO expressed views they disagreed with, Indeed found.
Earlier this summer, 68% of workers told Monster they’re uncomfortable discussing politics at work but sometimes felt pressured to do so, often during informal conversations, group meetings or one-on-one discussions with managers.
Employees have also expressed weariness with employer political engagement, according to a recent Gallup analysis. Fewer than 4 in 10 U.S. adults want businesses to speak out on current events, a 10% decline since 2023, the analysis found.
Nonetheless, employees still want to feel politically compatible with the organization they work for, according to Indeed’s results. Six in 10 workers prefer jobs at companies with politically aligned CEOs, the survey revealed. That number jumps to 66% among recent college grads and 71% of men between 18 and 34.
Notably, 42% of those responding to the Indeed survey said their entire company or corporate leadership is specifically aligned with a singular political party, and the scenario is much more common among Gen Zers and millennials.
When political disagreements cross over into the workplace, employers do want to be prepared, Gunster attorney Holly Goodman noted in an April op-ed to HR Dive. Policies can address political discussion at work, so long as they include appropriate carve-outs for activity protected by applicable law, she wrote.
But even with a properly tailored policy, it’s unrealistic to expect employees to ignore current events and stop talking about political topics, Goodman said. Instead, supervisors and managers should be trained on how to identify and manage potential conflicts before they escalate, she suggested.
“The fact that almost half of us would rather quit our jobs over politically charged fractions than be open to respectfully coexisting is a telling sign of just how divisive we’ve become,” Indeed’s post said. “Regardless of political ideology, employees have a right to feel psychologically safe at work. For many, this means seeking out companies that have similar values and priorities.”