Election Season Survival Guide: Strategies for Maintaining a Respectful Work Environment

Group of professionals discussing political matters.

Election season is upon us, bringing heightened emotions, strong opinions, and passionate debates—but as a business owner, this time of year can put you in a particularly precarious position. While you may believe that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, you likely also fully believe that these beliefs shouldn’t impede the performance of your staff or the harmony in your workplace. You may feel stuck between wanting employees to have a safe space to discuss current events and not wanting your business to suffer due to election-related stress and strife between employees.

As a business owner, it is crucial to establish clear boundaries and parameters that promote a respectful and supportive environment before, during, and after the election. At Berger HR Solutions, we are committed to helping businesses navigate every challenge that comes their way, and the election season is no different. Here are a few of our top tips for how you can navigate this potentially challenging period with grace and professionalism:

  1. Set Parameters: Clear boundaries are vital to maintaining a productive and positive workplace. These parameters should be communicated effectively to all employees, ensuring everyone understands the expectations of what is allowed and what will not be tolerated.
  2. Show Respect and Professionalism: Encourage all employees to be respectful and polite, regardless of differing political views. Disagreements should be handled with decorum and focus on maintaining a cordial and professional atmosphere.
  3. Prohibit Fundraising and Coercion: Make it clear that employees are not permitted to raise money for any political party or candidate within the office. Additionally, any form of coercion or pressure to vote for a particular candidate is strictly prohibited.
  4. Set Proactive Policies: Implement proactive policies that address potential conflicts before they arise. These policies can include guidelines on what is acceptable during discussions about politics at work and ensure that they are applied consistently.

Pre-Election Do’s and Don’ts

Particular stressors can exist in the pre-election season—predominantly related to anxiety about the unknowns—and as the election approaches, it’s essential to prepare your workplace with a set of fair and standardized guidelines aimed at eliminating potential conflict. Communicating expectations early and effectively is one of the best ways to eliminate the chance of contention or conflict in your workplace. A few of our recommended best practices are:

Do’s:

  • Do Encourage Informed Discussions: Allow space for informed discussions that respect diverse viewpoints in a respectful manner.
  • Do Offer Support Services: Offer support services, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), to help employees manage stress and anxiety during the election season.
  • Do Show Consistency: Whatever your workplace allows, ensure it’s fair and consistent for all sides. For example, if your workplace decides it’ll allow political posters or expressions of support, you must allow your employees of all political beliefs to display their support for their party or candidate.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t Allow Company Resources to Support Political Activities: Ensure that company resources remain neutral and are not used to support or endorse any political activities, maintaining a clear separation between business operations and political involvement.
  • Don’t Allow Political Messaging: Avoid allowing divisive political messaging that could create tension or conflict among employees.
  • Don’t Tolerate Harassment: Communicate your company’s zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment or bullying related to political views and the outcomes of violating this policy.

Post-Election Considerations

After the election, it’s important to address the outcome in a way that respects all employees yet reiterates your organization’s commitment to continue moving forward, regardless of the outcome. As emotions run high, a few ways to maintain office harmony after the results are in include:

  • Prevent Favoritism or Bias: Avoid showing favoritism or bias by continuing to apply the same pre-election policies and support to your employees. This consistency helps prevent undue contention.
  • Encouraging Open Communication: Encourage open, respectful communication that allows your employees to express their feelings. In most cases, it would be unreasonable to prevent your staff from discussing the election, but we recommend outlining your organization’s expectations for these types of conversations.
  • Offering Support Services: Be prepared to offer additional support services if the election outcome causes significant stress or concern for your employees.

Final Thoughts

Navigating an election season in the workplace requires a delicate balance of respect, consistency, and clear communication. By setting proactive policies and maintaining a supportive environment, you can help ensure that the workplace remains a positive space for all employees, regardless of their political beliefs.

At Berger HR Solutions, we understand the toll the election season may have on you as a business owner. If you have questions about how to navigate the election season, reach out to us at info@bergerhrsolutions or (410) 695-9888 where we can help create effective election-related policies for your organization. Berger HR Solutions is here to help.

 

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