Keeping Politics Out Of The Workplace During An Election Year
A divisive election is looming, and companies are debating how best to manage the potential distraction and stress of uncertain times with their employees and customers. As we learned during this year’s Vision Council Summit, which political party holds the Presidency does not make much difference on the overall economy, but it can have profound effects on people’s psyche.
If you work at a company like Ben and Jerry’s or Black Rifle Coffee, you know what type of political environment you have joined and align with the company’s values and point of view. But many companies try to remain neutral when it comes to taking political sides to not alienate both employees and customers.
As leaders in our organizations, how can we support our teams in a politically charged environment to keep everyone focused on work while encouraging engagement in democracy by voting and participating in localized activities that directly affect our communities?
In my personal life, I am active in political activities outside of work hours to advance certain political causes that I believe in, but as a leader of a diverse sales team I want to ensure everyone feels safe to come to work regardless of which political party they support, without fear of retribution. It can be difficult to keep your own views and feelings out of discussions, but you must lead your team by example and work to create a workplace culture that keeps politics outside.
Here are six tips to keep your team focused on work in a neutral environment as we enter the frenzy of November elections:
Do not post personal political views on LinkedIn and other social media sites that are work related. Employees who follow you on professional sites might feel that they cannot be their authentic selves if they disagree with your political views at work.
Set a good example by not making jokes about controversial topics and avoiding political discussions with subordinates, even if you share the same political beliefs. Have frequent meetings with your managers and check in with them to gauge the political temperature with their teams.
Political views tend to be formed by firsthand experiences, so it is important to have empathy and understanding in highly charged conversations. But if you hear these conversations, firmly remind employees that they are off task, and these discussions belong outside of the workplace.
Be careful in your communications regarding details about time off procedures for voting. Facts regarding absentee or early voting are fine but if there are benefits and rewards attached to voting, it could be construed as an effort to influence employee votes.
Most companies have policies regarding lawful political activities in their employee handbook. Work with Human Resources to make sure these policies are clearly stated and applied to all employees.
Be extra thoughtful and engaged with your team during the months prior and immediately after the November election. It can be a stressful time for everyone as people navigate personal, professional, and political issues.
Managing a diverse team is not easy but with clear guidelines and lots of empathy and patience you can navigate your organization through this turbulent election. I have also found that a healthy sense of humor gets me through the most challenging of times.
“Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” - Plato
Written by Celeste Vos The views expressed in this blog are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
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