As the world becomes a more divided place and issues are increasingly polarising, is it ever okay to talk about politics at work? Workplace wellbeing expert, Dr Angela Lim, says yes – but very carefully.
Politics at Christmas? Perhaps not. Politics at parties? Can be enlivening. Politics at work? Anxiety producing for many.
Where ‘office politics’ once meant something much more personal for workers, increasingly our therapists are seeing clients who raise workplace arguments about global affairs or local events as a source of stress.
In the US, a Gallup survey reported nearly half of workers had discussed politics with a coworker in the past month, and that was before the second election of President Donald Trump.
Dr Angela Lim
It’s not just those with strong views who may be affected in the workplace. A January 2024 study from the Journal of Applied Psychology found that the costs of just hearing political conversations in the workplace could lower job satisfaction for some employees, especially those who perceive themselves as having dissimilar perspectives.
Clearhead’s lead clinical psychologist Dr Barry Kirker is seeing more New Zealand employees who raise workplace arguments in his therapy sessions.
“I think some people are finding it hard to acknowledge our differences in respectful ways that still have a place in the workplace…
“Politics is so polarised at the moment,” he says. “Trump, vaccinations, even local politics seems more divided. I think some people are finding it hard to acknowledge our differences in respectful ways that still have a place in the workplace. Something like a gender-neutral bathroom at work can spark really strong feelings in some people. It can be hard to navigate, particularly for HR Managers and business owners.”
Some of this may be due to the impact of use of social media on our interactions – empathy and compromise are much easier to avoid behind a keyboard – which can lead to a lessening of those skills in real life.
Careful and respectful communication with colleagues is always important, but when politics is raised, especially so. There are a few key skills that, when actively practised, will help in many situations, especially those that cause emotional reactions as politics can.
These are:
- Active listening: Seeking to understand another person’s point of view.
- Seeking common ground, even if we disagree on solutions.
- Engaging in positive small talk. Asking about a colleague’s family or pets can help to build trust over time and shows you care about them.
- If things still get heated, being able to control your own physical or emotional reaction through techniques like breathing exercises or going for a walk will also help de-escalate a situation.
The key is not to completely avoid discussing politics, simply to be very respectful of how other people feel, if they want to engage.
Dr Barry Kirker
Young people at work, in particular can feel overwhelmed with the issues the world is facing, and talking about it with older colleagues or managers may help provide perspective.
“Anyone of any age can fixate on the negative state of global affairs, and that can be detrimental to mental wellbeing…
But anyone of any age can fixate on the negative state of global affairs, and that can be detrimental to mental wellbeing.
Kirker says there are a lot of people “feeling very despondent about the state of the world right now. My advice is to ensure you’re spending most of your time focused on your own social bubble – your family, friends, home, work – and limit the time you spend thinking about the issues you cannot control in the world”.
For some people, that may be setting a time limit of 15 minutes per day to read, and listen, to global events and views.
“We’re not talking about denial of what’s happening but being very conscious of how much attention you are giving to things outside of your control, if it is impacting your mental wellbeing.”
Leaders have a large role to play in ensuring a harmonious workplace in politically polarised times. Modelling healthy communication strategies, stepping in to de-escalate if needed and emphasising what diversity and inclusion means in a workplace is important. And if an unpopular decision needs to be made, explaining the rationale behind it then moving on.
“I recently had a case where a client was refusing to speak to a colleague who was supportive of Donald Trump,” says Kirker. “We have to respectfully acknowledge our differences and diversity of thought, especially in the workplace.”
Dr. Angela Lim is CEO and co-founder of Clearhead, a workplace wellbeing EAP provider that connects people to personalised, accessible therapy. Trained as a paediatric doctor, she completed research at Havard and has more than 15 years at the forefront of using technology to innovate healthcare delivery, including being an early pioneer in using AI to deliver mental health support in 2018.
