How Employers Can Help Navigate Divisive Pre-election Period

Poll after poll shows that the nation is equally divided politically, so it’s safe to assume that most workplaces are as well. The challenge for employers is how to allow employees to express their opinions without creating a divisive environment.

“Election season is always a critical time, but the stakes have never been higher,” says Karishma Patel Buford, chief people officer for Spring Health. “We’ve seen recent events push stress levels to an all-time high, regardless of political affiliation. Requests for therapy sessions spiked by two to three times in the three days following the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. This trend should be a strong indicator to managers and leaders that they must acknowledge the impact of the election on their teams and take proactive steps to create a supportive, inclusive, and psychologically safe environment.”

Providing tools to help employees acknowledge how political divisiveness affects their lives and prioritize their mental health is more critical than ever, she says.

“To promote a supportive environment, I always suggest that managers empathize with and validate diverse perspectives,” she adds. “Providing non-partisan resources and information on voter registration, ballots, and polling locations can also help employees feel more engaged and balance potential anxiety with the power of their voice and their vote. Further, reminding teams of mental health resources, shared values, and the importance of respect for differing political opinions can help unite teams during a divisive time.”

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See also:

• Election Stress Takes Heavy Toll on Worker Well-being, Productivity
• Down to the Wire: 2024 Elections Impacting Employee Benefits

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From: BenefitsPRO