Study links politics to performance and employee dynamics
44% of job seekers said they would be deterred from accepting a job offer if the company holds opposing political views.
In the midst of an election year, political tensions are playing an increasing role in workplace productivity and team dynamics. A new study by HiBob found that 44% of respondents said they would be deterred from accepting a job offer if the company holds opposing political views.
These sentiments were especially high among millennials and younger workers. Sixty-four percent of survey respondents aged 25-34 and 39% of those aged 35-44 said they would be deterred from joining an organization with opposing political views, compared to only 15% of workers over the age of 54.
“People today increasingly want company values to align or not conflict with their personal beliefs. This shows that a company’s political views can affect who decides to work there. However, while dissenting political views might not drive employees to leave, the prevailing sentiment underscores a strong consensus: the imperative to maintain neutrality in both office discourse and digital platforms,” said Ronni Zehavi, co-founder and CEO of HiBob.
Although 60% of workers said they would not be motivated to leave by an employer’s opposing political views, the majority prefer to keep politics out of the workplace. According to the study, 71% of respondents said they’d prefer to keep socio-political conversations out of the office — up 16% from the previous study.
Related: Tips for navigating political conversations in the workplace
Not surprisingly however, the results show that younger workers, under the age of 44, are more likely to be advocates for free speech with 64% of respondents disagreeing that political discussions should be kept out of the office.
The study also revealed a large disparity across gender and whether or not respectful political discourse should be encouraged in the workplace. Sixty-three percent of men agreed that respectful political discussions could nurture an inclusive and diverse company culture compared to only 52% of women.
“In an era where politics increasingly seeps into every aspect of our lives, HiBob’s findings underscore the delicate balance between individual beliefs and workplace harmony. With statistics showcasing shifts in tolerance and apprehensions toward socio political discourse, our findings beckon organizations to champion inclusivity, transforming workplaces into forums where every voice contributes to richer understanding and progress,” said Zehavi.