Who am I voting for? Why? Should I share it on LinkedIn? Would that be wise?

If a friend asks me directly, I’ll gladly share my choices and reasons. But you won’t find that answer on my LinkedIn profile. That begs several questions . . . one in particular, Why not?

It might seem obvious, but not to me, at least not all the time.

As Election Day approaches, I’m reminded of how tempting it can be to share my political opinions on LinkedIn—and how, sometimes, it feels almost too easy. But I’ve come to realize that my profile isn’t necessarily 100% mine.

So, if my LinkedIn profile isn’t entirely mine to use as I please, who really “owns” it?

Frankly, I believe it is more gray than we might think.

It might be unpopular to say, but I think my LinkedIn profile occupies a strange in-between space. While it’s functionally MY profile:

I do not want to embarrass or alienate my employer by having an opinion of mine miscontrued as representing them.

We all rely on a certain level of mutual trust, especially in professional spaces. I think we need to return to that trust a bit.

That runs both ways. If companies prefer their employees avoid internal activism that can reflect poorly on them, then it’s only fair they avoid engaging in activism on behalf of employees as well.

Who, then, does the LinkedIn profile truly represent? Both of us . . . we share.

Why?

My profile doesn’t explicitly show political affiliations or polarizing positions—Democrat, Republican, pro-life, pro-choice, pro-legal immigration, or open borders.

The first part of my LinkedIn Headline says "Husband and Father," that is what I am first and foremost, that is what you will get if I work for you. For me, protecting those I love also protects my employer and me.

I will not jeopardize the ability I have to provide for them: moral decisions, security requirements, performance . . . it is all tied back to who I am FIRST.

If there comes a time when we find a figurative ideological hill to die on or if we are asked to violate our morals, we should decide to speak up. Accept the consequences. But it should not violate trust.

Utility Belays Purpose

I use LinkedIn for personal networking, company research, sales engagement, and maintaining relationships of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it directly relates to my work; other times, it’s more peripheral.

LinkedIn's ability to do all of those things can be intermittently critical, middling, or a complete-time sync.

For many companies, LinkedIn is more than just a tool to evaluate candidates—it’s a window into their network. One of my mentors once told me, “A salesperson with fewer than 500 connections is a big red flag.”

Another time we can discuss the ethical ambiguity that potentially arises from a company seeking to exploit your personal connections.

Often, companies pay for Sales Navigator and premium memberships to magnify the utility of your profile on the platform.

So can you—or should you—share whatever you want?

If they pay for at least some of it, then the answer should be even more clear.

It May be Impossible

LinkedIn showcases a somewhat idealized version of the professional I strive to be, but it also reflects my real professional and personal history. Sometimes, you use it as you would any other social media.

An enterprising or ideologically possessed HR representative or interviewer, digging deep enough, can reveal hints about anyone’s political or religious beliefs based on connections, whom you follow, and reactions. It’s difficult to stay entirely neutral, even unintentionally.

Like it or not, we cannot control the ideology of the people attempting to assess our fit in an organization.

So why would you potentially alienate relationships preemptively? I have friends and colleagues on both sides of every issue. It is an unfortunate reality, that some people are unable to separate their dearly held beliefs from the person right in front of them.

Can we work with communists, fascists, white or black supremacists, race baiters, red hatted MAGA, purple-haired snowflakes, atheists, and religious zealots. . . ?

We already do, you just don't know it.

Everyone has silly beliefs, me especially.

I have been wrong enough to hope my friends and colleagues can forgive our mutual variance.

Does Free Speech Apply?

We all have companies with ideological stances (which are more or less overt), which can be challenging if those values don’t align with our own.

"A common misconception is that employees have a constitutionally protected right of free speech in the workplace. Public sector employees enjoy limited protection, but if you’re a private employee, the First Amendment will not protect you from being fired for something you say at work." (legal-info.lawyers.com)

If you work from home. . . then it may be even more complicated.

Therefore keep your beliefs, as much as you can, on your Facebook, Instagram, Ticktock . . . as long as you don't connect them to your LinkedIn.

What if your personal beliefs tie more directly to what you do professionally? My recommendation is . . . go for it—but consider making it a separate account. Keep your main profile professional and as nonpartisan as possible.

Consider This

A friend once shared a story that resonated with me. In a company-wide town hall following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the CEO mentioned the company’s commitment to covering medical care costs for employees who sought services aligned with their beliefs. Someone then asked:

"Will you be providing the same support for those seeking abortions as for those seeking infertility treatments?"

That question brought tension to the room, but it was a valid one. The bravery of that single person sticks with me.

I think about it often.

It risked a very public ideological rift and controversy. Was it wise to take that position as a company? What did the employee risk by publically revealing the ethical incongruency?

Who, if anyone, broke the trust?

To Conclude

If my LinkedIn profile plays a role in the performance of my job, in keeping my current one, in acquiring another, or is partially funded by my employer, discretion truly becomes the better part of valor.

Who Am I Voting For? Why?

If a friend asks me directly, I’ll gladly share my choices and reasons. But you won’t find that answer on my LinkedIn profile.

Go Vote.