40% Of Gen Z And Millennials Could Quit Due To U.S. Elections In 2024

Ever heard of the phrase, “Never mix business with politics”?

Evidence has shown that if you do, it can prove to be pretty disastrous for your career.

In consideration of the current political divide and upheavals surrounding the U.S. presidential elections, the job board, Indeed.com recently polled Gen Z and Millennial professionals to understand their attitudes and considerations with regards to their employer, as relates to politics.

The results were shocking.

The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 young adult workers, revealed that:

• Approximately 35% of respondents admit to discussing political issues openly at work.
• Another 44% say they have overhead it being discussed in the workplace—which is to be expected; but although water cooler chats and political banter are not uncommon, a staggering say they would 54% feel uncomfortable with talk about politics ever arising in a work meeting.
• Perhaps most importantly, an estimated 40% (in total) of Gen Z and Millennial workers say that in this turbulent political time, they would quit their job due to political differences with their employer or even over disagreeing with their CEO’s stance on politics, in favor of finding a company that aligns with their values.

Why Are Workers Quitting Over Politics In 2024?

The 2024 elections are not a trivial matter. One of the core reasons behind 18-34-year-olds desiring to quit their jobs over their employer’s political affiliations is that they do not feel respected in their workplaces due to their differing views, or are worried about the idea of continuing to work together with others who do not share their beliefs.

“The fact that almost half of us would rather quit our jobs over politically charged fractions than be open to respectfully coexisting is a telling sign of just how divisive we’ve become,” the Indeed report continues.

“It’s unlikely that everyone in any particular workplace will be politically aligned. And if you’re in the political minority, you might feel stuck in a toxic work environment. 39% of survey respondents reported there being some social pressure to conform to a certain political perspective at work. Another two-fifths of workers (39%) reported circumstances involving workplace discrimination or harassment based on political beliefs, and nearly one in five (16%) admitted to avoiding colleagues with different political beliefs.”

So what can we do about this brewing situation in the workplace, and what are the implications for jobs and the workforce?

Implications Of The Elections For The U.S. Workforce

One of the most major consequences of employers becoming more politically aligned—whether a deliberate decision or not—is that it can result in a negative and toxic work culture, leading inevitably to substantial workforce instability, with a large portion of younger workers potentially quitting their jobs over differing political views.

In a time when there is a major skills gap issue, this is certainly not the best move, as this trend could exacerbate talent retention challenges. navigate the delicate balance between maintaining a neutral workplace and respecting employees’ values.

The 2024 U.S. elections have become very much charged with conflicting opinions, ideas, and emotions. Therefore, bringing this topic into the workplace as an employer can result in your workers—especially outspoken, younger workers—feeling left out, becoming hate targets, potentially experiencing discrimination from colleagues, and reducing productivity and morale, which of course, impacts business outcomes.

From an employer perspective, it’s important to think about adopting a more inclusive environment and creating a culture that respects everyone regardless of their political views or affiliation during this sensitive 2024 elections time.

You should carefully weigh up the pros and cons of fully publicly advocating for one political party, or remaining neutral, and how that would affect your Gen Z and Millennial workers. Some may appreciate your political stance, while others may find it offensive and would rather cut ties with you. Do the benefits outweigh the risks, or vice versa?

You should also think about creating policies that ensure that everyone in the company has a sense of belonging and feels that their voices matter, to a certain extent, without feeling the need to pressure or be pressured by others into one way of thinking. Cultivate empathy and mutual respect within your leadership and management team, and consider evading talks, remarks, or even offhand jokes about the 2024 elections or other political concerns.

And finally, from an employee or job-seeker perspective, always aim to research the employer, their values, policies regarding discrimination, and any other policies that are relevant so that you can know what to expect when on the job and politics comes up in conversation.

The key here is the word “boundaries.”

Everyone has a right to their beliefs and the workplace should be a safe space for everyone, without the need for awkward moments that would make people dread coming into work or avoid conversations altogether. So always try to treat people the way you wish to be treated, and be empathetic and understanding towards others.

“Similar to setting boundaries like working hours or meeting blocks, it can be helpful to set boundaries for political conversations,” Indeed suggested. “Perhaps you only feel comfortable talking about politics when it is relevant to legislation or client work. Whatever that boundary looks like, be sure they are specific and consistent.”