A recent survey by Indeed and Harris Poll reveals that 63% of employees care “at least a little” about politics, and 35% openly discuss politics at work. However, this interest in political discourse does not extend to the workplace environment, especially meetings. Over half (54%) of the 1,141 U.S. adults surveyed expressed discomfort with political talk during meetings, and many were uneasy about subtle political messages appearing in remote meetings, such as campaign stickers or paraphernalia in video backgrounds.
The survey highlights the potential negative impact of political discussions on workplace dynamics. Around 34% of employees believe these conversations can harm team morale. Retention is also at risk, particularly among younger workers: nearly 40% of Gen Z and millennial employees said they would leave a job over political differences, and the same percentage would consider resigning if their CEO expressed opposing political views.
Overall, 28% of workers would contemplate leaving their jobs due to political differences, and 32% might do so if the CEO’s political views conflict with their own. Despite this, employees still value political compatibility with their employers; 60% prefer working for companies with politically aligned CEOs, with the number rising among recent college graduates and young men.
The survey also found that 42% of respondents believe their company or leadership aligns with a specific political party, a sentiment more common among Gen Zers and millennials.
Given the divisive nature of politics, the survey underscores the importance of employers addressing these issues to prevent performance and engagement problems. While it’s unrealistic to expect employees to ignore political discussions entirely, training supervisors to manage potential conflicts is crucial to maintaining a psychologically safe work environment. Indeed’s analysis points out that almost half of employees would rather quit their jobs than navigate politically charged conflicts, emphasizing the deep divisions in today’s workplace.
