ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – The 2024 U.S. presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most contentious elections ever, and that could cause problems for workers in the workplace.

Experts say dealing with politics in the workplace is difficult — and potentially damaging to their brand, reputation and values. But they also hope companies understand their right to limit discussions about the election during the workday. Suzanne Degges-White of Northern Illinois University says politics is still too hot a topic to talk about in the workplace. Human resources leaders say employers should be fully prepared to act quickly to defuse problems with political chatter.

“Studies have shown that productivity drops when politics is not a topic in the workplace,” says Degges-White.

According to an annual employer survey, 87% of company leaders are concerned about how their employees’ political and social views are addressed.

“When someone insults the candidate they support or the party they belong to, we take it very personally and it can cause us emotional and psychological stress,” explains Degges-White.

A small disagreement can lead to a heated argument, and experts say it can have a negative impact on morale and work relationships.

“When you share an office with someone and there are no policies in place from the company, I think it can lead to a sense of avoidance. Either you avoid contact with a person or, in extreme cases, you avoid wanting to come to work,” says Kevin Polky, a licensed clinical social worker.

Degges-White also says that a hostile work environment can even jeopardize an individual’s career.

“In the workplace, we really need to prioritize relationships with our coworkers and the work that we do. It’s not about what we believe, it’s not about religion, it’s not about politics, it’s about what we believe about the work that we do,” says Degges-White.

Experts say enforcing policies that restrict certain political activities and political speech can increase worker productivity and contribute to a better workplace. Employers can limit political speech and activities during work hours as long as the restrictions respect exceptions provided in federal, state and local laws.

All rights reserved.