Politics at the Office
The unprecedented events of the last month in the US presidential campaign, combined with major elections in nearly half of the world, has certainly brought a different meaning to the phrase “office politics.” But should CEOs take a public political stance? Korn Ferry’s experts weigh the pros and cons. Plus, how some corporate leaders are using return-to-office mandates to trim employee head count.
1) Staying Out… of Politics
These days, the US presidential campaign—along with its constant drama—is all anyone in the country can talk about. The topic comes up during internal work, pre-meeting banter, coffee breaks, and nearly everywhere else employees talk to one another. But when it comes to the man or woman in the corner office, politics remains a dicey issue.
Indeed, one survey this year found that 36% of workers would consider leaving their jobs if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, that figure jumps to 44%. And more than half of all workers—56%—said that political talk during meetings makes them uncomfortable.
2) Using RTO to Cut Staff?
Return-to-office mandates are all about corporate values and building a shared culture, right? Maybe not—at least in some cases.
According to a new survey confirming the worst fears of some workers, one-quarter of top corporate leaders and nearly one-fifth of HR executives say they hope?RTO mandates lead to “voluntary turnover.”?Experts say the survey reflects a shift in the thinking of leaders: Where once they feared losing talent because of RTO mandates, now they’re enforcing them so people will leave.
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3) Just Hired? 5 Essential Tips
Although 65% of companies plan to hire college graduates this year (according to a recent survey), many employers question the workplace readiness of these incoming employees. A recent survey found that 1 in 10 business leaders believes that most recent graduates are unprepared for the office because they lack interpersonal, problem-solving, and written- and oral-communication skills
Experts say many of these skills are best learned in the office, through observing and talking with more seasoned employees. Here are five essential steps for any new hire to take when starting a new position.
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Check out?Briefings , our bimonthly national magazine, for in-depth and unusual looks at critical leadership issues.
OK Bo?tjan Dolin?ek
Director @ East London Francophone LTD | YouCanBookMe, APEX Platform
3 个月Thank you
Job Search / Career Strategist, Recruiting Insider
3 个月What relevance to the success of the business would a CEO's political opinions have? I can see saying something like: We may have to put hiring plans on hold till we see the outcome of the election---but whether the CEO is choosing one candidate over another isn't relevant and shouldn't be announced.
Helping organisations to develop leaders and the business by using business psychology.
3 个月Many organisations, most companies, are eager to proudly advance and expound their values, and rightly so. When political players act in ways that clearly are in conflict with those values, these organisations' leaders should be strong enough to take a stand - in respect of those values they are (or claim to be) so wedded to.
CEO of croit North America Inc, the Ceph Storage Company. Global SME in growing business through IT-as-a-Service Design. Mentor, coach, consultant and thought leader.
3 个月Over-extending the label of "politics" can destroy corporate culture by punishing legitimate business-related speech. The current geopolitical situation is a great opportunity for leaders to take clear positions on ethics, corruption, and hypocrisy, supporting government policies that lead to a better and more law-abiding business environment. The temptation is to avoid controversy, but instead courageous leaders should use current events to clearly communicate company values and culture to shareholders and employees, with zero tolerance for violence or policies that undermine equal opportunity for law-abiding people. Pay, promotion, hiring and firing should be about job performance, not favoritism. Data, logic and reason should guide decisions, not emotions and opinions. In the face of instability, company leaders should courageously guide people through the obvious issues instead of creating a list of taboo topics that can only be whispered. There is nothing wrong with pointing out which government policies are helping or hurting the business, and leaders owe it to shareholders and employees to highlight public policy changes that help the business.