As we grow closer to Election Day and the results, divisiveness at work can spike as employees bring their personal views and anxieties into workplace discussions. Politics are increasingly causing us to feel more polarized and less connected than ever before.
However, it’s also a good time for business leaders to advocate for unity, and when employees with differing political views can feel heard, valued, and respected. Companies’ lead executives are in a unique role to foster belonging and can take responsibility for caring for their people. They are a trusted information source. There is a business case for creating a workplace where people can get along well enough to work side by side to accomplish the task at hand.
But in addition to helping people understand the election process and offering time off to vote, what other actions can leaders take to help combat divisiveness at work? Here are four tips to help executives navigate the election season with employees:
- Keep conversations civil and train employees on how to navigate political conversations. Establish a respectful communication culture with policies that promote mutual respect, allowing team members to co-create ground rules and guidelines, such as how they can utilize internal communications channels to share trusted resources. Promote safe social media practices and share non-partisan fact-checking sites, like this one, to combat misinformation. Train teams in civil dialogue by using Health Action Alliance’s tipson how to talk about politics in the workplace.
- Promote a common purpose and company values: Emphasize company values, as well as shared goals and corporate purpose. When employees focus on a collective purpose like improving local communities, it can help reduce the importance of divisive topics. This may be part of the reason why out of 87% of surveyed companies in this year’s Giving in Numbers™,almost all reference applying their corporate purpose as they made business decisions beyond social investments. A corporate purpose helps communicate a comprehensive view of the company’s impact and can reinforce the benefits of its unified culture.And volunteering can align employees with common goals that reinforce company values by fostering teamwork, community engagement, and a shared sense of purpose.
- Provide resources for emotional and psychological support: Encourage open conversations to foster psychological safety and belonging. Acknowledge any potential conflict and lead with empathy and support by offering access to employee assistance programs (EAPs), mental health resources, and workshops on stress management. Election season can be highly stressful, and mental health resources can help employees navigate emotions constructively. Prioritizing employee well-being contributes not only to the health and happiness of the workforce, but also to the overall success and sustainability of the organization.
- Stay neutral in company messaging: Avoid political messaging in official communications. Instead of abstract, vague, and controversial terms, find concrete, specific, and common-sense examples in inclusive language to create a sense of unity and belonging. Start dialogues around key values that underpin democracy such as freedom, justice, and unity. Or instead of saying, “the world”, use “our customers and communities”. Remind employees that the workplace is a neutral ground where the focus is on collaboration, growth, and mutual respect.
By integrating some of these strategies during this year’s election and beyond, executives can create a workplace where employees feel supported, respected, and empowered to work together—and connect with customers, suppliers, and partners—despite differing political viewpoints. This commitment to unity and respect not only strengthens the company culture but also enhances productivity and overall employee well-being.