Office Politics: Employees Split on Discussing Public Affairs at Work

Politically speaking, Americans have had a hard time agreeing about much for at least the last decade. So, it seems appropriate that employee opinions would be divided as to whether politics have a place at work.

We’re four months into a presidential election year, of course. And the political climate is only going to grow more contentious as November draws nearer. Against this backdrop, HR technology provider HiBob recently surveyed 1,000 professionals, in search of employee perspectives on political expression in the workplace.

Overall, the poll found more workers growing weary of political discourse on the job. For example, 77% of respondents said they would prefer to avoid political debates at work, compared to 61% of employees who said the same when HiBob conducted a similar poll in 2023.

More than 80% of respondents to HiBob’s most recent survey, conducted in January 2024, said they would keep political discussions out of their organization’s digital communication channels. Another 68% indicated they would avoid debating political issues on social media.

Overall, though, 58% of employees support encouraging such discourse in the workplace, marking a 10% increase over HiBob’s 2023 poll. Division seemed to be more prevalent among younger generations of workers, as 64% of employees under the age of 44 advocate strongly for free speech. Just over 60% expressed no opinion.

Some employees worry about repercussions for speaking their minds about politics, however. For example, half of respondents said they fear sharing political opinions with their manager could put their relationship with their supervisor, it not their job, at risk. More than 60% indicated they are hesitant to share their political views with colleagues, compared to 50% who said as much in 2023, according to HiBob.

All that said, employees’ unease over political differences—either with co-workers or with the organization’s stance on sociopolitical issues—isn’t necessarily bad enough to make them want to quit their job.

For example, 60% of respondents said they wouldn’t leave an employer because the organization’s political stances differed from theirs, compared to 46% of employees who said the same in 2023. At the same time, 44% of workers suggested they would be dissuaded from accepting a job offer if the organization held views that opposed theirs, compared to 39% who indicated as much in 2023.

Such findings highlight the need for employers to create a work environment where employees feel comfortable respectfully sharing diverse perspectives, said Ronni Zehavi, HiBob CEO.

“Employees seek alignment between personal beliefs and [organizational] values, impacting employment decisions,” said Zehavi, in a statement.

“Although differing views may not prompt exits, the prevailing sentiment underscores a strong consensus for maintaining neutrality in the workplace. Establishing clear guidelines and fostering respectful dialogue will help promote inclusivity and professional relationships.”