Workplaces and Politics Do Mix
Workers report experiencing or witnessing differential treatment over political views, political affiliation bias, or political disagreements in the workplace.
More than half (56%) of employees say the discussion of political issues have become more common in the last four years, according to the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Politics in the Workforce survey.
While in most cases, workplaces and politics shouldn’t mix, of the 522 working Americans surveyed, one-third (34%) indicated their workplaces are not inclusive or mostly inclusive about differing political opinions. One in 10 working Americans say they have personally experienced either differential treatment (11%) because of political views or political affiliation bias (12%). In addition, 13% say they have witnessed or observed differential treatment because of political views and 12% have witnessed or observed political affiliation bias.
The survey found 42% of working Americans have personally experienced political disagreements in the workplace. Forty-four percent have witnessed or observed political disagreements in the workplace.