Up For Debate: Is It Ok To Talk Politics With Colleagues?

Workers are Split: 22% Say Yea and 26% Say Nay, Robert Half Research Shows

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Aug 20, 2020, 08:02 ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Politics may be top of mind for many people right now, but is the topic safe to talk about at work? There's no consensus, new research from global staffing firm Robert Half shows. While 22% of professionals surveyed said it's appropriate to discuss politics with colleagues, 26% noted it's never OK. Just over half of respondents (53%) stated it depends on the situation.

Additional findings:

Among the 28 U.S. cities in the survey, San Francisco (63%) has the highest percentage of workers, by far, who are on board with talking about politics with colleagues, followed by New York (34%) and Los Angeles (33%).
Professionals in Cincinnati, Phoenix (35% each), Cleveland and Philadelphia (33% each) are most opposed to political discussions with coworkers.
More respondents ages 25 to 40 (32%) than those ages 41 to 54 (13%) and 55 and older (9%) said conversations about politics are acceptable.
More women (30%) than men (20%) said it's inappropriate to bring up politics with colleagues.
Professionals without children (31%) were more likely than working parents (20%) to report that political discussions are unsuitable for work.

"Politics can be an emotionally charged and polarizing topic," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. "While non-work-related conversations can help colleagues connect — particularly when working remotely — heated political discussions can have a harmful effect on professional relationships and productivity."

McDonald added, "Some political talk is inevitable, but workers need to be extra sensitive to and respectful of others' perspectives. Even with the best intentions, miscommunication can occur and lead to unnecessary conflict."

Robert Half offers three tips for navigating political talk with colleagues:

Tread lightly. If you choose to participate in political conversations, keep it light and constructive. Should the discussion become confrontational, move on to another subject.
Decline politely. Don't feel pressured into sharing your political views. It's OK to bow out of a conversation and let others know you prefer not to chime in.
Speak up. If a colleague says or does something that makes you uncomfortable, pull the person aside and explain what's bothering you. For more serious matters, consult your manager or human resources.

About the Research
The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from July 7-30, 2020. It includes responses from 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older in 28 major U.S. cities and typically employed in office environments.

About Robert Half
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The company has more than 300 staffing locations worldwide and offers hiring and job search services at roberthalf.com. For additional management and career advice, visit the Robert Half blog at roberthalf.com/blog.

SOURCE Robert Half