Navigating Campaign Influence on Company Culture

With the presidential election right around the corner, the candidates’ campaigns are having an influence on companies across the country. People talk about politics—at home, online and at work. Since this is inevitable, rather than trying to keep their employees from talking about politics, companies should instead focus on ensuring that politics do not unduly influence their company culture.

So, what’s the first step?

The first step toward navigating campaign influence on company culture is to acknowledge that this influence exists. Whether they talk about it or not, almost everyone has political views. It’s also worth noting that many people have political views they are afraid to share. In the workplace in particular, feeling uncomfortable in your surroundings can create tension—and this can influence job satisfaction, productivity and relationships (or lack thereof) with coworkers.

Managing Political Speech and Campaign Influence in the Workplace

Of course, some people are not afraid to share their political views, and this can have an even greater influence on a company’s culture. When employees speak out vociferously in support of one candidate or the other, companies must be careful to respect their employees’ rights, views and opinions while also making clear that they do not necessarily endorse what is being said.

Although private-sector employers are not subject to the same restrictions on regulating political speech as public entities, practically speaking, all employers need to take an informed and consistent approach to managing political influence in their workplaces—both during and after the election cycle. While restricting political speech will be appropriate (and arguably necessary) in some instances, going too far in telling employees what they can and can’t say can have the opposite of its intended effect.

Setting Expectations, Fostering Respect and Building Trust

With all of this in mind, navigating campaign influence on company culture is largely about setting expectations, fostering respect and building trust. Since no two companies’ workforces are the same, no two companies’ approaches to navigating campaign influence should be exactly alike. Companies need to focus on their specific challenges, and they need to implement solutions that take into account the ongoing operations, dynamics, and influences of their specific workplaces.

This means that understanding your company’s ongoing operations, dynamics, and influences is critical. Once you know what’s going on, then you can focus on implementing any necessary changes. Our workplace assessments are designed to give company executives and HR managers the insights they need; and, if you need to make sure politics don’t derail your business in the months ahead, we can help you make informed, strategic and cost-effective decisions with your company’s best interests in mind.

What Can (and Should) Your Company Do to Manage Politics in the Workplace?

If you would like to know more about how we can help you make data-driven decisions about managing campaign influence on your company’s culture, we encourage you to contact us today. Call 720-452-3300 or tell us how we can reach you online to schedule an appointment at AR Group.