Are you risking your job with political talk in your workplace?

If you’ve been in your workplace for five years or longer, take a minute to reflect on the following question:

As compared to five years ago, expressing your political views in the workplace today is more likely to affect your career. T or F

This question comes from a late 2019 survey titled Trends and Perspectives in the Workplace Today, a national survey lead by my organization, Bright Enterprises, with sponsorship from Better Business Bureau, National Management Association, Vistage, WATT (a woman executive organization), LPGA, and other companies from the financial and utility industries.

The purpose of the survey was to take a peek at what’s happening culturally within American organizations and companies today in comparison to 5 years ago. The data came from the opinions of over 660 managers and non-managers from a wide range of workplaces across the country.

As it relates to this question, here are the findings:

66% of respondents said that expressing your political views or revealing your political identity would affect work relationships more so today than 5 years ago. 

Almost half (48%) of the respondents said that expressing your political views today compared to five years ago will also have an effect on your career.

 Though the findings are startling, no one can surmise, for sure, what the actual effect on relationships would be. Nor can it be definitely stated that political views would have a positive or negative effect on one’s career. A conclusion that can be drawn, however, is that if political talk was once considered “safe-talk,” it’s safe to say that it’s more of a gamble today than it was just five years ago.

Feel free to respond with your personal experiences or those of your colleagues and friends. It would be terrific if you would weigh in and share your views!

By the way, if you would like to have a copy of the Trends and Perspectives in the Workplace Today, a national survey simply click here.

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