Maintain Calm Leading Up to Election Day

It’s been an incredibly ugly presidential campaign, and with two weeks left until Election Day, the worst may not be behind us.

The conflict over the presidency has infiltrated the workplace, so much so, that a recent survey by the American Psychological Association indicates that one in four younger employees report they’ve been negatively affected by political talk on the job, with both men and younger workers being the most affected by workplace political discussions. The problem is so pervasive, in fact, that it has been dubbed the Election Stress Disorder.

Things may heat up as we approach Nov. 8 (or even escalate after the new POTUS is elected), so follow these tips from Mike Baize, a manager of HR Services with Insperity, to tame the tension and keep emotions in check:

• Change the channel. Many offices are equipped with TVs tuned to CNN or other news channels, allowing workers to stay up-to-date on current events. However, the non-stop nature of election coverage may be a distraction and a source of conflict. Turn off the news coverage leading up to Election Day and opt for something less controversial.

• Agree to leave political discussions at home. Ask workers to avoid political discussions. Of course, you probably can’t effectively ban all talk of politics. However, set the tone and many employees will follow suit and appreciate a political discussion-free zone.

• Encourage employees to take a social media break. Many employees receive all their news coverage from social media channels like Twitter and Facebook, and they can become hooked on it as they wait for updates. While you can’t guarantee they’ll listen, you can ask employees to refrain from using social media on their personal devices in the office. And you can install apps to block social media on company computers and devices if you feel the issue has gotten out of hand.

• Find ways to reduce stress. Simply getting out of the office can help workers reduce anxiety. Encourage employees to take their lunch hour to walk, run a few errands or eat away from their desks, instead of surfing the web. Hold team-building luncheons or office retreats to bring employees with opposing views together for some fun. One proven way to reduce stress is to shift the focus from personal issues to the needs of others. Schedule an out-of-office volunteerism event, where employees are invited to assist those who are less fortunate.

The battle for the presidency will soon be over, but no doubt, another controversial issue will pop up and cause conflict in your workplace soon enough. Keep stress at bay and prevent conflict by following these tips when your team is bombarded with news stories that threaten to tear it apart.

Insperity, a trusted advisor to America’s best businesses for more than 30 years, provides an array of human resources and business solutions designed to help improve business performance. Insperity^® Business Performance Advisors offer the most comprehensive suite of products and services available in the marketplace.