It’s Official, Politics Makes It Hard To Focus At Work (2020 Election)

By Kathy Morris

Feb. 9, 2023

Fact Checked

Discussing Politics In The Workplace Research Summary

There’s no avoiding politics in Rhode Island, with 71% of workers discussing it in the workplace.

“Leave it at home”, says Nebraska and Montana, where only 25% of workers discuss politics in the workplace.

A total of 54% of all US workers do not talk about politics at work.

Only 44% of all Americans agree that talking about politics in the workplace is fine.

Having a hard time focusing?

You aren’t alone. Between the work-from-home grind, a global pandemic, and a 2020 election that consumes the 24-hour news cycle, it can be challenging to remain on task.

If that isn’t enough, political memes in Slack and heated watercolor talk mean it isn’t just the headlines, it’s your coworkers contributing to the distraction.

We surveyed 2,000 workers to determine the impact of politics on the workspace. Turns out, most workers are pretty distracted by politics and almost half have a lot to say on the clock.

Other Interesting Facts

Other Interesting Findings

While the majority of us are distracted by politics, 21% of workers stay focused.
47% of us admit to talking politics at work.
56% of workers keep their political affiliation a secret from their employers.
More than 1-in-3 believe if their employer knew their political beliefs they could potentially experience negative repercussions.
44% of job seekers would have reservations about applying to a company that actively supports a different political party than theirs.
Another 21% wouldn’t apply at all

Is it ok to talk politics at work? A breakdown

Keeping quiet or sharing your political opinions at work can both be difficult. While a majority of workers opt to not bring politics in the workspace, many still believe there is a space for political expression in the workspace. We sought to understand the common reasons people agree (or disagree!) with politics in the workspace:

Common Reasons People Believe Politics At Work Are Appropriate

Civil discussion with like-minded coworkers is fine
Respectful conversion is fine
Downtime at work (breaks, lunches) is not on the clock
Hiding personal beliefs for 40 hours a week is difficult/unpleasant
Politics can impact work (laws, regulations, or changing policies)
Not unusual to discuss politics in certain work environments

The most common response by far was that it’s not inappropriate to discuss politics with coworkers of similar beliefs. This is particularly interesting because high percentages of workers attest to keeping their political affiliation secret. Maybe not the best-kept secret? Now for the other side of the lid, the 44% who believe politics are not for the workspace:

Common Reasons People Believe Politics At Work Are Not Appropriate

Employers are in a position of power that makes political talk risky or unequal
People can feel alienated or relationships hurt by political beliefs
Can create hostile environment
Political talk is boring or uninteresting
“Sex, politics, and religion” don’t belong at work

Overall, many seem to differentiate between bosses and coworkers; Drawing a line of appropriateness between colleagues that doesn’t extend to managers or bosses.

METHODOLOGY

Zippia.com, a career resource website, conducted a study of 2,000 workers across the U.S. on politics in the workplace.

Each respondent was asked a series of questions about their feelings, thoughts, and personal actions involving politics in the workplace.

Vermont was excluded due to sample size.

Politics At Work Is Complicated

Whether you talk about politics at work may depend on your work environment and your own comfort level.

Regardless, it is important to remember that your “like-minded” coworker, might just be quietly disagreeing or too uncomfortable to express their thoughts. Strive for a respectful, civil tone, and be careful not to attack your colleagues who are just trying to finish a presentation.

If political beliefs are important to you, consider applying to a company that aligns with you politically.

How many workers talk politics at work?

State	Percent Of Workers
Alabama	56%
Alaska	50%
Arizona	44%
Arkansas	60%
California	50%
Colorado	51%
Connecticut	40%
Delaware	60%
Florida	50%
Georgia	37%
Hawaii	50%
Idaho	33%
Illinois	47%
Indiana	53%
Iowa	63%
Kansas	43%
Kentucky	43%
Louisiana	42%
Maine	40%
Maryland	47%
Massachusetts	45%
Michigan	38%
Minnesota	51%
Mississippi	38%
Missouri	49%
Montana	25%
Nebraska	25%
Nevada	50%
New Hampshire	50%
New Jersey	44%
New Mexico	44%
New York	45%
North Carolina	44%
North Dakota	33%
Ohio	38%
Oklahoma	42%
Oregon	37%
Pennsylvania	47%
Rhode Island	71%
South Carolina	53%
South Dakota	33%
Tennessee	49%
Texas	45%
Utah	58%
Virginia	52%
Washington	34%
West Virginia	43%
Wisconsin	58%
Wyoming	40%

Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

Create Resume