“While it can be tempting to engage in political discussions in the workplace, it is important for professionals to be respectful of opinions and perspectives that differ from their own,” says David King, senior district president of Robert Half in Canada.
Last year, Google’s clampdown on “disruptive” conversations and the federal election put the issue in spotlight, so employers should think about how they can reinforce what’s appropriate, said one legal expert in talking to Canadian HR Reporter.
Canadians are looking for business leaders to take a stance on the issues of equality and racism while the global pandemic rages on and protests against violence against black people around the world continue, according to Angela Carmichael, president at FleishmanHillard HighRoad (FHR) in Toronto.
Navigating political talk
One in five (21 per cent) men say talking politics is appropriate, compared with one in 10 (nine per cent) women, found the Robert Half survey of 500 adult workers.
Also, 19 per cent of working parents say it is appropriate, compared with 12 per cent of professionals without children.
