This is a tiny glimpse of the data available in The Pulse of the U.S. Workforce Report by idealis, powered by CivicScience data. Learn more in our latest webinar here.
In the aftermath of a polarizing election season and on the heels of a new administration’s inauguration, political differences are spilling over into workspaces more than ever. With employees expressing political identities through social media, signage, and conversations, it’s no longer a question of whether politics impacts the workplace—it’s how.
To explore this and more, CivicScience partnered with idealis to produce the Pulse of the U.S. Workforce Report, offering an in-depth look at the key issues shaping today’s workforce. We shared our latest findings in a recent webinar presented by CivicScience CEO/Founder John Dick and idealis CEO/Founder Dr. Sumona De Graaf. Here are three key takeaways:
1. Over half of U.S. workers express concern over the impact of conversations about politics at work.
There is a broad concern about talking politics at work, and, unsurprisingly the U.S. presidential election has heightened these anxieties. Data show that certain demographics are more inclined to experience concerns, including:
- Liberal-leaning colleagues: The election outcome increased concerns among this group post-election, whereas concerns decreased among conservative-leaning workers.
- Younger workers: Those ages 18-24 are most concerned about talking politics at work, whereas those ages 55+ are less likely to engage in political discussions.
- Racial minorities: Non-white workers express higher levels of concern about talking politics at work.
- Those who express employment concerns: Individuals concerned about politics in the workplace are also concerned about their employment situation.
Answer our Poll: Do you prefer working from home or working in an office?
2. Political discussions impact productivity at work.
Recent data reveals that over half of U.S. workers have witnessed heated political discussions at work, and nearly 40% have engaged in political discussions themselves. Leaders feel the most heat — those in leadership roles are more likely to have witnessed heated discussions (64% vs. 51%) and are more likely to have participated in heated discussions themselves (48% vs. 33%). When considering the impact of these heated discussions, over 60% of workers agree that they impact productivity (positively or negatively). The impact may be positive — those who have higher scores on our Drivers of the Workplace Experience are more likely to agree that there is an impact.
For instance, 66% of those who feel that their manager cares for them agree that there is an impact on productivity, compared with 50% of those who don’t feel cared for. By providing an environment where individuals feel safe to share their views and be cared for, leaders may create an environment where they can speak up about issues and values that are important to them. On the other hand, it’s also possible that once an individual experiences a heated political discussion, they will be less likely to raise them in the future.
3. Political leanings and work experiences are related, as Conservative-leaning workers are most satisfied with their jobs.
The broader workplace experience differs for individuals across political leanings. Conservative-leaning colleagues are generally more positive about their workplace experience individually than their Independent and Liberal-leaning counterparts. Data show that Conservative employees in the workplace also have higher trust in their CEOs, admire their leaders more, are happier in their jobs, and feel engaged more often at work.
Weigh In: Are you happy at your job?
It’s clear from the data that political identities influence workforce experiences and perceptions of leadership and corporate roles in society. This makes it more important than ever for companies and leaders to stay attuned to their workforce and foster inclusivity in the workplace. To learn how to improve your culture or gain deeper insights into the U.S. workforce, check out the full webinar recording here.
