Among the key findings of the research:

Rising political stress and generational trends. In June, 24 percent of employees reported feeling politics-related stress at work, but that number surged to 30 percent by September, tracking along with the predicted 42 percent increase expected in November. Generationally, baby boomers, Gen X, and millennials reported increased stress at work because of political issues between June and September, with only Generation Z reporting a drop in stress.
Political talk erodes workforce well-being and connection. The week before the 2022 midterm and 2020 presidential elections saw workforce well-being drop by up to 6 percent and productivity drop by 2 percent. In August 2024, two-thirds of employees who overheard political talk at least several times a week wanted to avoid certain co-workers, up dramatically from 28 percent in June.
Workers look to a connected, neutral approach. Seven in ten workers want organizations to stay politically neutral, and 61 percent expect them to focus on employee well-being and culture instead. Employees who feel a strong sense of belonging and receive well-being support from their organization experience approximately 30 percent less politics-related stress compared with employees who lack these resources.

The consensus among workers in a MyPerfectResume survey is that political discussions have no place in the workplace. When asked whether employers should limit or discourage political discussions at work as the presidential election approaches, nine in ten workers agreed, with 71 percent of those saying these discussions should be limited and 18 percent saying employers should discourage them.

Instant Insights /

Election Stress Takes Heavy Toll on Worker Well-being, Productivity

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