Politics in the Workplace: The Legal and Business Challenges

In the aftermath of the 2024 elections, and as citizens continue to engage in discourse on important political topics and opinions, companies can expect that political speech and activity will continue to occur in the workplace. Recent reports show that 87% of employers expressed concern about managing divisive political and social beliefs among their employees. Because political discussions often involve issues with personal significance to employees, even a small disagreement can erupt into a heated argument. This can negatively impact productivity, employee morale, and working relationships as employees discuss or even advocate their political opinions.

The way an employer proactively handles and responds to politics in the workplace is critical because it affects a significant range of issues, such as an organization’s brand, reputation, compliance with labor and employment laws (including anti-discrimination laws and the National Labor Relations Act), and employee rights related to political speech and activities. This panel will examine how companies could address and are addressing politics in the workplace.