How to facilitate political conversations at work

With the presidential election right around the corner, employees may want to discuss their beliefs more freely at work, but not all of them feel safe enough to do so — which could affect recruiting and retention in the long run.

Thirty-one percent of workers overall experience conflict at work due to their political beliefs, according to a recent survey from resume building platform Enhancv, with 5% having already been disciplined at work for expressing their political opinions. As a result, searches for “ethics of talking politics at work” jumped by 540% and “can you get fired for talking politics at work” are up 100%, according to an analysis of Google search data from online education platform EduBirdie.

“Discussing politics at work isn’t a crime, but you do need to establish clear rules around what’s acceptable. It’s a topic best avoided with subordinates, for instance, even if you share similar beliefs. You don’t want to cause discomfort or encourage talk of favoritism. If it doesn’t seem appropriate, steer the conversation elsewhere and remind your colleagues you prefer to keep work and politics separate.”

“Not every mention of politics needs to descend into an argument. If you find yourself in a political conversation and feel uneasy, avoid confrontation by asking open-ended questions that help you understand others’ perspectives. Rather than specific positions, ask about their values, which will encourage more thoughtful dialogue — and foster a culture of understanding rather than division.”