Supporting Your Employees During Elections

During elections, people’s feelings about the results can spill over into work. It's important to be ready for stronger emotions and conversations during these times.

Our beliefs can make us very passionate, leading to discussions that are more intense than usual. To navigate these situations, we need to focus on respectful communication, making everyone feel included, and keeping the workplace positive.

Employees, managers, and human resources staff should work together to keep the work environment respectful and productive. With good strategies and a promise to communicate kindly, we can keep our workplace united, even when politics are heated.

Checking on your employees during election season

Use the suggestions below to support your coworkers who might be feeling upset because of an election:

Check in with yourself first. Before helping others, make sure you’re feeling okay. If you're feeling stressed or unbalanced, take a moment to calm yourself. One way to do this is through box breathing: breathe in for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, breathe out for four seconds, and hold again for four seconds. Repeat this for a few minutes as needed.

Stay neutral. It's important to be neutral as much as possible. Employees are happier and more loyal when they know their opinions don’t affect how they are treated at work. As a leader, it’s vital to listen to different viewpoints and create a safe space for everyone.

Encourage respectful conversations. All talks, including political ones, should be done respectfully. Encourage coworkers to communicate in a way that is inclusive and open. Set some basic rules, such as:

• Listen to understand.
• Aim to learn rather than just give your opinion.
• Stay curious.

Practice active listening. Active listening means truly understanding what someone is saying instead of just waiting to talk yourself. Even if you don’t agree, focus on their thoughts by summarizing what they said and asking questions. The goal is to understand them, not to change their mind.

Focus on shared goals and values. Remind everyone that, despite different political views, they are all working towards the same goals as a team. Stress the importance of working together to achieve these objectives. This can help shift focus away from politics and create a more united team.

Shared values might include:

• Respect: Being open-minded and respectful toward all viewpoints.
• Integrity: Being honest and clear in communication.
• Inclusivity: Making everyone feel valued, no matter their political beliefs.
• Collaboration: Working together to achieve common goals.

Address work issues, not politics. If political discussions are causing distractions at work, focus on the performance problems that arise instead of the conversations themselves. This keeps the discussion relevant to work and productivity.

Promote civility & respect. Make sure your workplace rules about behavior and respect are clear. If discussions turn personal or create a negative environment, remind everyone of these policies to keep things civil.

Find common ground. When political discussions get too heated, try to steer the talk toward areas where people might agree. Finding common interests or values can help bring everyone together and maintain a sense of community.

Know when to walk away. Sometimes, political talks can get too intense, no matter how hard you try to keep things neutral. If you feel it’s best to step away, do so to take care of yourself. Removing yourself from a tense situation shows that professionalism should come first.

Get help. Remember, we are here for you. If you need help, don’t hesitate to request an HR & manager consultation or call us at 877-313-4455.