Survey Finds 75% of Workers May Leave Their Jobs Due to Political Environment

Zety's survey shows 66% admit lying about their views at work to avoid conflict and tension

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Zety®, a career service dedicated to helping people improve their resumes and cover letters, polled 1,102 U.S.-based workers to investigate the prevalence and impact of political discussions in the workplace. Zety's Politics at Work Report highlights the widespread nature of these conversations and their effects on employee comfort, discretion, and job satisfaction.

Survey Highlights:

• High prevalence of political discussions: 92% of workers engage in political discussions in the workplace.
• High concealment: 66% of workers admit to lying about their political views, with entry-level and younger employees being the most likely to misrepresent their stances.
• Support for banning political talk: 60% of workers believe that political discussions should be banned in the workplace, with stronger support among younger workers, entry-level employees and remote workers.
• Desire to leave due to politics: 75% of workers are considering looking for a new employer due to the current political environment in their workplace, a sentiment that is especially powerful among younger and entry-level employees.

"In today's polarized political climate, it's no surprise that political discussions have become a common–and often uncomfortable–part of the workplace culture," said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety. "The data shows that while many employees feel compelled to participate in political discussions at work, these conversations frequently lead to tension, fear of judgment, and pressure to hide political views to maintain harmony and avoid conflict in the workplace."
When respondents were asked how often they discussed politics at work:

• 2% talk about politics daily
• 20% very often talk about politics (weekly)
• 23% often talk about politics (monthly)
• 39% admitted to occasionally (three to six times a year) talking about politics
• 15% rarely talk about politics (one to two times a year)
• 1% never talk about politics

Lying About Political Views
The survey revealed that 66% have lied about their political views at work. However, this practice is not uniformly distributed across all employee groups; it varies significantly based on job level, work environment and age.

• 94% of entry-level workers lie about their political views, compared to 44% of senior-level managers.
• 77% of remote workers have misrepresented their political stances, versus 51% of on-site employees.
• 83% of younger workers (25 years or younger) felt the need to lie, compared to 63% of their older colleagues (26 or older).

Top Motivations for Hiding Political Views:
When respondents were asked about their motivations for hiding their political views at work, the survey revealed the following reasons behind this widespread discretion:

• 41% fear negative consequences from the company, manager, or coworkers.
• 30% wish to avoid conflict and fit in with the team.
• 11% share discomfort with sharing personal political beliefs at work.
• 4% fear of being judged or discriminated against.

Stances on Banning Political Talk and Company Policies
According to the survey, 60% of workers believe political discussions should be banned. This sentiment is particularly strong among remote, younger and entry-level employees.

• 80% of workers aged 25 or younger support a ban, compared to 56% of workers aged 26 or older.
• 80% of entry-level employees favor prohibiting political conversations, compared to 44% of senior-level managers.
• 65% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans agree that politics should be off-limits at work.
• 73% of remote workers think companies should ban political discussions, compared to 41% of onsite workers.

Meanwhile, 81% of workers acknowledge that their company has formal guidelines on political discussions, while 13% are not bound by such policies and 6% are unsure of their company's stance.

Most Common Political Topics Discussed at Work
Political discussions in the workplace often touch on deeply personal and emotionally charged topics, leading to a high potential for discomfort or distress. Here's a breakdown of the most common political topics discussed at work:

• Gender Equality (44%)
• Racial Equality (43%)
• Labor Rights and Union Issues (39%)
• Police Brutality (39%)
• Immigration and Border Control (31%)
• Gun Control (30%)
• LGBTQ+ Rights (27%)
• Abortion (26%)

Impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election on the Workplace

The upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election is strongly influencing workplace dynamics. The polarization is reflected in how employees perceive heated political debates. When asked about who is more likely to engage in heated political debates:

• 54% think Democrats are more likely to engage in heated political debates at work
• 36% believe Republicans are more likely to engage in heated political debates at work
• 9% believe both parties are equally more prone to heated debates
• 1% see no difference between them

The Broader Implications for Workplace Culture and Retention
75% of workers are considering looking for a new employer due to their current political environment. The survey reveals concerns about how the current political climate affects employee retention and workplace culture among various age groups and experience levels.
Retention Concerns by Demographics:

• Gender differences: 81% of men consider seeking new employment because of the political climate, compared to 68% of women.
• Age factor: The impact of political discussions is even more pronounced among younger workers, with 96% of employees aged 25 or younger contemplating a job change. This contrasts sharply with 71% of those aged 26 or older.
• Experience level: Entry-level workers are particularly affected, with 89% considering leaving their jobs, compared to 67% of experienced workers.

"The Politics at Work Survey shows that people are diving into sensitive and controversial topics that have no place in the office. These conversations aren't just uncomfortable, but they can also be very risky and adversely affect how people view their coworkers and the company, which may be seen as inadvertently allowing these discussions to take place," Escalera said. "This divisive political chatter can easily alienate colleagues and disrupt team dynamics, creating an environment where employees feel on edge or pressured to either speak up or stay silent. Companies need to recognize the fine line between freedom of expression and maintaining a respectful workplace culture and take a clear stance on managing these kinds of discussions. It is up to every company to better enforce policies around political discussions in their workplace or consider creating them."

For detailed insights, access the full survey results at https://zety.com/blog/politics-at-work-report or contact Skyler Acevedo at [email protected].

Methodology
The findings presented were obtained by surveying 1,102 American respondents on July 30th, 2024. Participants were queried about various aspects of political discussions at work. They answered different types of questions, including yes/no, open-ended, scale-based questions where respondents indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options.

About Zety
Zety is the leading career website providing the ultimate career toolbox to help everyone find their dream job. Fueled by the best career experts and a community of millions of readers, Zety shares a range of innovative resume templates, expert advice, and resources to empower job seekers at every stage of their career journey. Launched in 2016, Zety has helped millions of job seekers across the globe find employment. With a rapidly growing community of more than 40 million readers, Zety is regarded as "the best online resume builder" on the market and has been featured in Forbes, the Financial Times, The Guardian, and HuffPost, among many others. Follow Zety on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X to stay connected and receive the latest updates.

Zety press contact: Skyler Acevedo
Phone: ‪(732) 659-0439‬

Media Contact

Skyler Acevedo, Zety, 732-659-0439, [email protected], https://zety.com/

SOURCE Zety