Talking politics in the workplace can negatively affect employees, according to new research released today.  
 
A survey of 1,000 employees conducted by HR and employment law specialist, Peninsula Ireland found that 1 in 5 employees are negatively affected by political talk in the workplace. 

The survey also discovered that 65% of employees avoid talking politics at work and 32% of employees reported that workplace hostility has increased because of political discussions at work. 
 
Commenting on the research, HR Director at Peninsula Ireland, Alan Price said, "The workplace brings people together from different backgrounds that might not usually interact with each other. When you add politics to the mix--a deeply personal and sometimes emotional topic for many, there is potential for tension, friction and problems for both employees and the business."

He added, "While you can't prevent political discussions at work, it is important to remind employees to be respectful. Political views are a personal matter. Ensure that employees are sincere in their interest for another person’s views, and have them truly consider why another person may feel the way they do on a certain topic. By taking a civilised approach, employees can respectfully share opinions with each other without getting confrontational. Practicing these discussions may even help them in other work conversations and difficult situations in the future."

Source: www.businessworld.ie