Survey finds 88% of employees in Australia discussing politics with colleagues
Political conversations are filling workplaces in Australia in the lead-up to the federal elections on May 3, according to a new report, which saw most workers being open to these discussions.
More than eight in 10 (88%) employees in Australia said politics is a topic of conversation among their colleagues, the latest Robert Half poll revealed.
It found that 55% of workers also feel comfortable when talking about political events at work, with only 13% feeling uncomfortable and 20% feeling indifferent.
"Politics was once considered off-limits at work, but today, many Australian employees are open to hearing colleagues' views and engaging in political discussions — a clear shift as the federal election approaches," said Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half, in a statement.
Discussions about politics have long been taboo in organisations amid fears that they could escalate to arguments and disrupt workplace harmony and negatively impact productivity.
In the United States, 28% of HR leaders in a Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) survey recently said political polarisation has impacted their organisation's ability to hire. Another 15% said differing political views have caused an employee to leave.
The HRCI survey even found that 27% of HR professionals have witnessed or heard a political argument at work, with the topics ranging from candidates to political affiliation. There were also conflicts stemming from different matters, ranging from reproductive rights to climate change.
European employers also struggling with similar challenges, with 86% of leaders in Littler poll last year saying they find it difficult managing political discussions and divisive beliefs in the workplace.
But Australian workplaces are different, as per the Robert Half report.
More than four in 10 employers (41%) in Australia said they have noticed political discussions often occurring in their workplace, but 41% noted that the impact has been positive.
Another 48% said these discussions have no impact on their team dynamics, and only 11% reported a negative impact from political conversations at work.
Among employers who have not noticed political discussions occurring in their workplace, 13% of them believe it would have a positive impact.
The majority (61%) said this would not impact team dynamics, and only 26% believe there would be negative impacts from these conversations.
"Our findings reveal that employers are largely unconcerned about political discussions in the workplace, with many even seeing them as a potential positive for team dynamics," Gorton said.
Despite this openness to political conversations, Gorton underscored the importance of being respectful when approaching this "emotionally charged topic."
"Workers at all seniority levels therefore need to be extra sensitive to and respectful of differing viewpoints to ensure they do not negatively impact team dynamics," she said.
The director also reminded HR leaders that politics can be potentially divisive.
"Therefore, it's crucial for leadership to remain vigilant when discussions occur and ensure that all employees feel respected and included, regardless of their political views," she said.
An organisation's conflict resolution culture will also be crucial in cases where political discussions escalate to disruption, according to the HRCI.
Amy Dufrane, CEO of the HRCI, said managing conflicts over political views is "rarely different than many other clashes in the workplace."
"Polarising views are not unique to politics and religion," she said in the HRCI report. "They often regard work itself—like a disagreement over a product launch or an approach to a particular business challenge."
"A balanced approach that combines respect, managerial culpability, and HR support can effectively manage uncomfortable or hostile interactions."
