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The subject of politics has become virtually unavoidable in the workplace, and Gen Z and millennial workers are more likely to seek — and leave — employers based on their political beliefs.

A recent poll by the job site Indeed found that 28 per cent of workers would consider resigning over political differences at work, and 32 per cent might leave if the chief executive expressed views they disagree with.

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By age group, workers aged 18 to 34 were the least tolerant of politics in the workplace, with nearly 40 per cent saying they would leave a job due to political differences. Forty per cent of the same cohort said they would leave if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with.

“The fact that almost half of us would rather quit our jobs over politically charged fractions than be open to respectfully coexisting is a telling sign of just how divisive we’ve become,” the study said.

The survey released by Indeed on Aug. 14 looked into how employees feel about the presence of politics at work and how it’s impacting where they choose to work and who they work for.

With the 2024 United States presidential election coming in a few months, the year has become distinctly divisive, with some finding it commonplace to openly discuss their political beliefs, the study said.

“With social media and the 24-hour news cycle constantly keeping us informed of daily events leading up to the 2024 U.S. election, suffice it to say that politics are likely to come up naturally in your day-to-day water cooler chats,” it said.

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But many would likely want to avoid uncomfortable situations during their daily 9-5.

According to the survey, 63 per cent of respondents care “at least a little” about politics, while 35 per cent admit to openly discussing politics at work.

Meanwhile, a further 44 per cent say they’ve overheard their coworkers discussing politics while on the job.

Not all employees, however, want a political experience at work. The survey found that 54 per cent said that they’re uncomfortable with any conversation involving politics coming up during work meetings.

Politics can also take on a much more subtle approach, such as a visible political campaign sticker or mug, especially for those taking their meetings remotely. It said 16 per cent reported seeing some semblance of support for a political party in the background of a video conference.

These occurrences can have a profound effect on the workplace, the study said.

Forty-two per cent of respondents find that politics has impacted their team in some way, shape or form. Moreover, 34 per cent believe politics has had a negative effect on team morale.

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“It’s clear that discussing politics at work can prove insidious if left unaddressed,” wrote Indeed.

Considering how politics impacts the workplace, some employees said that their job should align with their own political values.

About 42 per cent of workers say the entirety of their company or corporate leadership is specifically aligned with a singular political party. This is much more common for employees aged 18-34, with 53 per cent of that age group saying this is the case for them.

The survey said 60 per cent of workers prefer jobs at companies with politically aligned CEOs. This number jumps to 66 per cent among recent college grads and 71 per cent of men between the ages of 18 and 34, it said.

It added that while it is unlikely that everyone in any particular workplace will be politically aligned, some in the political minority might feel stuck in a toxic work environment.

The poll found that 39 per cent reported there being some social pressure to conform to a certain political perspective at work.

Another two-fifths of workers reported circumstances involving workplace discrimination or harassment based on political beliefs, and nearly one in five admitted to avoiding colleagues with different political beliefs.

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Indeed from July 30 to August 1. It polled 1,141 U.S. employed adults ages 18 and older, with a + /- 3.3 percentage points using a 95 per cent confidence level.

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