Politics is seeping into the workplace, and in the past few months, its negative effects on talent outcomes, including productivity, engagement and collaboration, have become more pronounced.
According to Gartner research:
- 62% of U.S. employees reported that politics has affected their ability to work
- 34% of U.S. employees said the topic of the 2020 presidential election led them to argue with a co-worker
- 43% of U.S. employees avoided working with or talking to a co-worker because of political beliefs
HR leaders must ensure they are equipping managers to best mitigate potential conflict and drive inclusion with their teams in these ways:
- Defining clear political expression guidelines for managers to enforce
- Creating safe spaces for employees to discuss these issues to alleviate the managerial burden
- Providing managers with resources and support to communicate with their teams