An
This distraction is unlikely to end in the near-term as political discussions continue in the days leading up to, and immediately following, the
"Most employees are paying attention to politics and talking about politics with their colleagues, and these discussions can have a negative impact," said
Gartner's survey also shows that nearly three-quarters of
Maintain productivity by creating safe spaces
The share of employees who said the election has a big impact on their ability to do their jobs increased from just 5% in
The best safe spaces encourage employees to take action, rather than just reflect on their beliefs and how they express them. HR should facilitate these conversations around relevant topics, including politics and the upcoming election, and encourage employees to examine their own unconscious biases and how they impact them both inside and outside the workplace.
"Forty-six percent of employees have avoided talking to, or working with, a co-worker because of their political beliefs, making it critical for organizations to enable employees to express themselves on controversial topics in a safe and authentic manner," said
The days leading up to, and following, the election could be especially fraught - Gartner's survey found 43% of employees report that it is challenging to work with colleagues whose political beliefs differ from their own, a nearly 20% increase from
Enable employees to participate
Gartner research shows that 62% of
Leading organizations are making it easier for employees to participate in the political process by offering flexible work options on
Additional information on how organizations and HR leaders can address these trends is available in the Gartner article, "Managing Employee Engagement and Productivity Through the United States 2020 Presidential Election."
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