HR in Review 66 – How to deal with political disputes at work

In today’s HR in Review episode, we discuss managing political disagreements in the workplace. With only a few weeks left to go until the election, political conversations in the office are becoming more prevalent and tensions could rise. So, who’s responsibility is it to manage the differing interests and how should organisations be thinking about free speech in this context?

Guest: Toby Hough, People and Culture Director, HiBob

Toby Hough is driven by unlocking the business impact of strong organisational culture and people strategy. Toby joined HiBob in 2021 with almost 5 years of experience having previously worked as Director of People & Culture at hiber and Head of People and Culture at Medallia. Having previously served as a member of management teams representing the people function, Toby has a solid understanding of the people challenges faced by growing organisations.

Questions for Toby include:

• What role should companies play in managing or facilitating political/social conversations among employees in the workplace?
• What policies or guidelines should organisations implement to keep workplace political discourse respectful and avoid damaging conflicts?
• What’s the best way for companies to facilitate an environment of mutual understanding around differing political perspectives?
• With generational divides evident in attitudes towards sociopolitical discussions at work, how can companies bridge those gaps and create an environment where employees from different age groups feel comfortable voicing their opinions respectfully?
• What steps should managers take when political discussions lead to conflicts between employees?
• Who’s responsibility is it to foster this environment which allows for healthy political discussions? HR, leaders, employees themselves?