WASHINGTON (TNND) — New data reveals that a significant number of U.S. workers are experiencing or witnessing an escalation in tensions, threats, and even violence due to political disagreements.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Civility Index:
- 70% of U.S. workers report that they have experienced or witnessed people threatening each other in their daily lives because of political differences.
- 69% of U.S. workers have experienced or witnessed people use violence against each other in their daily lives because of political differences.
- 78% of U.S. workers surveyed reported experiencing or witnessing poor treatment due to their political opinions in their daily lives.
Jim Link, SHRM’s chief human resources officer, said there are several reasons for this number.
“Part of what’s driving that is certainly the heavy use of social media and digital technology to share knowledge and information,” he said. “There’s a lot at stake no matter which side of the fence you fall on, and people tend to be somewhat polarized in their opinions around those issues right now.”
Workers who add links must speak up and report incivility, harassment, discrimination, and violence.
As we head into next week’s election, our responsibility to speak out against this practice is more urgent than ever.
On average, about half of the workforce will feel like they’ve lost or won, but that’s the line that requires each employer to listen empathetically, dialogue, and genuinely engage with each other. It gives us a unique opportunity to re-establish. It’s a respectful, kind and courteous way to do it,” Link explained.
“Leaders need to clearly establish that civility is a requirement in the workplace. In our interactions, in the way we approach each other, in our expectations and mutual respect, it’s okay to be kind to each other again. “We need to be clear and make requests to each other,” he encouraged. “When dialogue is involved, we need both active speakers and active listeners, but we seem to have forgotten the lost art of active communication. And finally, managers and Leaders absolutely must address uncivil behavior whenever it appears.”
According to SHRM, lost productivity and absenteeism due to incivility costs U.S. businesses approximately $2.17 billion per day.
