Politics in the Workplace
HR professionals are being asked to support employees through our nation’s presidential election this year, which includes guiding conversations to help prevent explosive interactions. This resource center is designed to provide practical strategies and suggestions for creating an environment of civility, empathy and respect in the workplace.
Member Resources
Learn 6 ways HR professionals can prepare for issues related to external protests.
A sample policy regarding employee involvement in political activities.
This toolkit provides an overview about how employers and employees can manage and resolve workplace conflict. It contains recommendations for managing conflict if it arises and discusses employee communication and metrics .
Federal law does not require employers to give employees time off to vote, but a majority of states and some local ordinances mandate voting leave time, especially when an employee's work hours do not permit sufficient time to vote during poll hours.
While no federal laws prohibit private employers from asking political affiliation questions, such questions could potentially trigger a discrimination claim.
The success of our business is dependent on the trust and confidence we earn from our employees, customers and shareholders.
News & Expert Guidance
It may come as a surprise to learn that private-sector employers can often fire workers based on their political affiliations or activities. No federal law creates a protected class based on political beliefs, though some state and local laws may shield employees.
In today’s politically charged atmosphere, companies must be prepared to enforce their policies on workplace interactions—and hold employees accountable for observing them.
Originally coined as a term that celebrates and welcomes diversity, in recent years, “woke” has become a dirty word in some circles—and a potential hot potato in corporate America.
Eddie Glaude, Jr., an author and African American studies professor at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J., opened the SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference 2023.