Political Discussions Heating Up in the Workplace

More than half (56%) of working Americans surveyed say politics and the discussion of political issues have become more common in the workplace in the last four years, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s Politics in the Workplace study.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) say their workplace is inclusive of differing political perspectives, while 33% say their workplace is not. Eleven percent report they have experienced different treatment in the workplace because of their political views, and 12% report they have experienced political affiliation bias. Similar amounts have witnessed these things against others in the workplace.

Forty-two percent of those surveyed say they have experienced political disagreements in the workplace, and 44% have witnessed or observed political disagreements.

According to a Robert Half survey of more than 1,000 workers, 66% of respondents say talking politics at work is more common today than five years ago, but just 22% feel these conversations are appropriate. In addition, 49% of employees are interested when politics come up at work, but more than one-quarter feel uncomfortable or indifferent (27% each), and 19% get irritated.