Workers brace for impact of politics in the workplace ahead of upcoming election

As the upcoming presidential election quickly approaches, some employees anticipate impacts in the workplace. A new report shared by FlexJobs found that 32% of workers believe that the November election will have a “significant impact,” on their career. Additionally, 22% of respondents said they blame the current political climate for higher stress levels at work. 

The perceived impacts of the upcoming election in the workplace were higher among men, who were also more likely to believe the impacts of the election would be significantly positive rather than negative. 

“With the November election only weeks away and political discussions continuing to heat up, the political climate is understandably top of mind for most professionals,” said Toni Frana, Lead Career Expert at FlexJobs. “And even though the majority of people do not believe the election will have an impact on their job directly, challenges like inflation and economic instability have heightened workers’ concerns related to career scrutiny and financial goals.” 

Among those surveyed, professionals believe that the current political climate has affected their careers due to increased expenses because of inflation or economic instability; increased stress and anxiety related to job security and financial stability; difficulty finding new employment or opportunities and higher stress at work, among others. 

Related: Election stress takes heavy toll on worker wellbeing, productivity

The effects of politics go beyond the current political climate, however. According to the report, 60% of respondents said a company’s political stance factors into their decision to work for a particular company. Despite that, 71% of working professionals did say they would work for, or consider working for a company that supports policies they don’t agree with if the position was appealing due to other factors such as higher compensation or fulfillment in the role. 

Overall, the report reinforces the importance of finding a strong cultural fit in the workplace. “From considering how you feel about political talk at work to determining the ideal work environment for your individual needs, it’s crucial to find a company that will support your personal and professional growth,” the report said.