When Sedition Hits Your Workplace

This isn't just a political problem.

It's a business problem.

In the past few days, we've been asked to help some business leaders find the words to react to the January 6 attack on Democracy, free and fair elections and likely threat to the lives of Vice-President Pence, Speaker Pelosi and other members of Congress. Some suspect, and others have found out, that their employees were part of the seditious riot.

I can't believe I actually had to write that sentence.

But my surprise is nothing like clients' surprise that people they work with and depend on are involved in such seditious, terrorist behavior. That people they trusted are unable to separate fact from fraud, and so out of touch with reality that they're acting on lies. How can they be trusted not to do the same at work?

Most of the people who've asked for our advice have communicated something like, "You're free to advocate for your beliefs, but make no mistake: If you participated in the riot in Washington or any other city, either on January 6 or afterwards, you will be terminated, immediately, for cause."

Some have added their version of this message: "We know you think you're being patriotic. We know you've been told by someone you trust, the President of the United States, that he won in a landslide. We know there are other politicians and media who repeat the Lie. And it must feel awful to know you were lied to by trusted sources. Because you were lied to by him. We think, and hope, you trust us. And we tell you, without reservation, that Joe Biden will be the next president, having won the vote by wide margins: 7 million popular voters and the electoral vote by 36. There is no evidence of fraud."

Obviously, emotion is a driver of the refusal to see truth. So is the desire to feel connected to others, to a community, especially in this work-from-home world.

It's smart to give people an off-ramp from their delusion: "It must feel terrible to have been lied to by someone who you trusted." "You trust us, and we tell you the truth."

There's anecdotal evidence that this appeal is having some impact. But, from what I'm hearing back, it's not moving as many people as I would hope. If, as polls suggest, millions believe the Big Lie, then you're likely working with someone you can't trust to see the world from a factual basis. That's not just a political problem, it's a business problem.

What are you experiencing? What are you saying and hearing that's doing the trick?

There is a lot of damage to repair. It looks like the business response that this isn't ok -- from withdrawing campaign contributions to not firing verified rioters -- is the only reliable response we're going to see for a while.

And, as leaders, you can help. Let's get a conversation going.