Organizations could see more workers exit based on the CEO's political beliefs, according to a survey released March 12 from job search platform Indeed, conducted in partnership with the Harris Poll.
The Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 survey of 1,098 adults in the U.S. found that 32% of workers would consider leaving their job because of political differences with others at work — and 36% would consider leaving their jobs if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with. The latter figure rises to 46% among 18- to 34-year-olds, and 44% among 35- to 44-year-olds.
"We spend a lot of our life at work, and politics is a very personal part of our life," Kyle M.K., talent strategy advisor for Indeed, told Fortune. "People wanting to separate from those that they would consider to be unhealthy, or views that what they would consider to be unhealthy or toxic, doesn't surprise me."
Three other survey findings:
- Forty-three percent of U.S. workers reported hearing people talking about politics at work.
- Fifty-six percent of U.S. workers said they're uncomfortable with political talk in meetings.
- Sixty-two percent of women in the survey said they're uncomfortable with political talk in meetings.
Political conversations are likely to ensue inside and outside the workplace in an election year. Mr. M.K. recommended to Fortune that business leaders discuss larger issues instead of specific politicians and move forward in a way that aligns with their business values and mission.