In early 2024, nearly half (45%) of U.S. employees said they had discussed political issues with a coworker in the past month. This percentage has likely only increased as the presidential election nears. These encounters are about twice as common among fully on-site employees (54%) as among exclusively remote workers (28%). However, rather than fall in the middle, hybrid workers (48%) report having such conversations nearly as much as fully on-site workers do. While these conversations can help build connections and deepen relationships among colleagues, they can also cause harm — particularly if workers are already disengaged on the job. With employee engagement hitting an 11-year low in the first quarter of 2024 and perceptions of being cared about at work on a decline since 2020, workplaces may be particularly vulnerable to the corrosive effect of politics as the election unfolds. As the 2024 presidential election intensifies, the potential for political discussions to impact workplace dynamics grows. Explore engagement strategies to mitigate the effects here: https://lnkd.in/gQDG4t4K
Open political conversations can build bonds, but they also require care. Fostering a respectful workplace keeps relationships strong and engagement high!
I dont understand why there are so many people conversing about governmental politics. Are they now bored with their job? If I were these people's Leader, I'd help them truly understand how the only politics we need to address at work, are the tasks and politics at work. If governmental shenanigans matters to the effect of the company, than sure....in a moderated format like maybe an in house meeting. But not chatter. It's childish
Interesting
My follow up question is…how can employers have productive discussions about politics at work when it’s such a polarizing subject, especially with the 2024 Election coming up between Kamala vs Trump?
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (350 BC): zoon politikon (ζῷον πoλιτικόν). [ -human is the animal which lives in ordered communities - man is by nature a creature of the polis.' That is, man functions with and belongs to the city. ] For those who enjoyed Greek in high school Aristot. Eud. Eth. 7.1242a where he says that man is not only a political animal, but also a social: ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος οὐ μόνον πολιτικὸν ἀλλὰ καὶ οἰκονομικὸν ζῷον, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ τἆλλά ποτε συνδυάζεται καὶ τῷ τυχόντι καὶ θήλει καὶ ἄρρενι ἀλλ᾽ αἱ διὰ δύμον αὐλικόν, ἀλλὰ κοινωνικὸν ἄνθρωπος ζῷον πρὸς οὓς φύσει συγγένεια ἐστίν: καὶ κοινωνία τοίνυν καὶ δίκαιόν τι, καὶ εἰ μὴ πόλις εἴη: οἰκία δ᾽ ἐστί τις φιλία.
"Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: Transforming Leadership Development with a New Paradigm"
2moPolitics fall in ther realm of culture. It is a fabric of our countries value system. You can’t expect people to ignore it, especially when they feel there is something great at stake that impacts everyone. Rather than trying to restrict it, leadership should consider having periods where you bring a department together to discuss how political discussions impact the department and the company. Handle it as a conflict situation. Identify the type of conflict. Focus on the disruptive issues. Engage in conversation that focuses on the issues and seek common ground. If you have a element in the organization that is displaying cult like behavior, and you feel this person is vital to the organization. You can approach the person the way you would as a difficult employee. Then provide a psychological resource for counseling that is part of the improvement plan. If they refuse then they are making a choice based on a deep core value and you will have to the discuss the consequences of them refusing counciling and help. This unfortunately might end up in a termination. This is a time where you should take the time to assess the cultture to see if you have disrupter actors that are disrupting work.