Even prior to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, political tensions spilling over into the workplace have been top of mind. In late June, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., the CEO and president of the Society for Human Resource Management, named civility at work as a key concern.
In the aftermath of the shooting and amid the meeting of the major political parties at their national conventions, most people aren’t keen on discussing politics at work, according to a new Monster report.
The majority of workers told Monster in July 2024 that they respect their co-workers’ right to their respective political beliefs. But 68% of workers said they are uncomfortable discussing politics at work; likewise, 60% of people said political talk at work “should be avoided entirely.”
Dragged across the aisle
At Shaw’s Tavern in Washington, D.C., bingo cards were set out ahead of the June 27 debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
The majority of people in the Monster report said they have discussed politics with their co-workers — almost as many as those that had voiced discomfort.
Interestingly, almost half said they had felt pressured to do so. How did it come up? Workers felt that coercion during:
- One-on-one discussions with managers (11%)
- Client or vendor conversations (13%)
- Group meetings (15%)
- Informal conversations (40%)
A tricky situation
People watch the CNN presidential debate between Biden and Trump at a debate watch party at Shaw’s Tavern in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
While workers are reluctant to discuss politics at work — with 14% of respondents going as far as to say they’d rather have a cavity filled — that underlying desire for employee-employer political alignment exists.
About half of workers told Monster said they would contemplate quitting if their employer openly expressed contradicting political beliefs. Comparatively, an April 2024 HiBob report suggested workers would not quit over politics.
Some similar takeaways remain: The majority of respondents in the April report support the ability to have political discourse at work, but many are also worried that their own stance will affect their professional future.
However, 59% of survey respondents told Monster that discussing their political stances at work will negatively affect their professional life.
As the 2024 election season kicks into high gear, the need for clarity on workplace etiquette, especially around politics, may only grow.