How to prepare employees for the U.S. presidential election

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How to prepare employees for the U.S. presidential election

By Mita Mallick

The U.S. presidential election is dividing workers across the country.?

A recent Gallup survey found that 80% of adults believe Americans are greatly divided on the most important values—the highest level ever recorded.?

This divide in our country, shows up in our communities, on our social media feeds, and at our workplaces.?

When I was first starting out my career in corporate America, I was taught that you didn’t talk about “religion, sex, or politics” at work. My father was the first person I remember having a job at a big company. He would have his tea and toast in the morning, while reading the local newspaper, and then drive to his office. He came back around 6 p.m. from work and yelled at my brother and I to give him the television remote, so he could watch the national news.?

During this time when social media didn’t exist, there appeared to be a clear line where work ended and life outside of work began. Some leaders are still living in that old workplace paradigm. They haven’t grasped that the world of work has significantly changed. And whether they like it or not, politics will find their way into our workplaces.

According to a 2023 Glassdoor survey, political conversations are more common than you might think. About 61% of U.S employees have discussed politics with colleagues over the last year. Men (67%) are more likely than women (54%) to engage in political discussions with colleagues. And women (62%), among those ages 18 to 44, are more likely to engage in political discussions vs women ages 35 and older. And yet, younger employees part of Generation Z are less likely to be comfortable with politically diverse workplaces.?

With the presidential election quickly approaching, now is the time to make sure organizations are prepared for what will likely be another tumultuous election. Many leaders are still operating in an old paradigm when it comes to our organizations, believing that politics have no place at work. Here is my advice for how to prepare your employees for the upcoming presidential election:

Refresh your employee social media policy

It’s time to refresh and re-socialize your employee social media policy with your organization. And if you don’t have a policy, now’s the time to craft one.

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