Job candidates less keen on employers with opposing views – and fewer employees comfortable discussing politics: survey
Six in 10 employees said they won't leave their employer for having an opposing political stance, according to a new report, which found that such issues are likely to hurt recruitment over staff retention.
HiBob's latest poll among 1,000 professionals in the United States found that 60% won't leave an employer for having a different political stance, up from the 46% in 2023.
But while it is less likely to impact retention, employers might have some roadblocks in hiring new staff, according to the report.
It found that 44% of employers are dissuaded from accepting job offers from a future employer with an opposing political view, up from the 39% in 2023.
Ronni Zehavi, CEO of HiBob, said this indicates that employees are seeking "alignment between personal beliefs and company values."
Source: HiBob's 2024 Sociopolitics in the US Workplace Study
But there are others who would rather stay in the dark about their organisation's political stance, according to the report.
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More than half (51%) of the respondents said they don't want their CEOs to express opinions publicly, and another 34% they want their organisations to stay neutral on socio-political matters.
"Although differing political views may not prompt exits, the prevailing sentiment underscores a strong consensus for maintaining neutrality in the workplace," Zehavi said in a statement.
Discussing politics in the workplace
Meanwhile, the report also found that there is less inclination to discuss politics in the workplace.
About 60% are more hesitant in sharing their political views with each other, up from the previous 50%.
Half of the respondents are also afraid to share political opinions with their managers, citing its risk to their job and relationships.
Overall, 77% of the respondents said they would rather avoid political debates at work, and another 81% said they want these discussions out of the company's digital communication channels.
Despite this, 58% of the respondents said they would still support encouraging socio-political discourse in the workplace.
Nearly three in four (74%) of the respondents also said these discussions should take place in a safe space that allows opposing opinions to be expressed respectfully.
"Establishing clear guidelines and fostering respectful dialogue will help promote inclusivity and professional relationships," Zehavi said.