Election Day in the U.S. is hurtling toward us, and recent events have shown emotions are running high. For many People leaders, November 5 can't arrive soon enough — not only because of the unbearable suspense of the political races, but also because of the tension that varying opinions and events being discussed in the workplace can bring.

Ahead of the recent presidential debate in late June, I had a team member share that they were dreading watching it. While they felt it was important to be informed on the candidates, they were also concerned about the impact that watching it could have on their stress levels and overall mental health. It allowed me to validate the complexity of the time we find ourselves in and the tangible impact of the stress this election cycle is causing for so many. As we approach the second presidential debate of this election season, we need to acknowledge that employees are dealing with more uncertainty than ever, which is exacerbated by a volatile political environment. The reality is, our employees are dealing with more uncertainty than ever, which is exacerbated by a volatile political environment. As leaders, we would be remiss not to thoughtfully and intentionally support employee mental health during this critical time.