Using a nationally-representative sample of nearly 3,000 respondents, this paper presents new empirical evidence on the incidence of social hostilities in the workplace.
Key findings
- In response to the question “Have you ever not shared an opinion regarding a social or political issue with a colleague or supervisor out of fear that your views could jeopardize your career or professional advancement,” we found that 42% of respondents answered “yes.”
- Similarly, in response to the question “Have you ever not shared a disagreement or concern you had regarding your company’s direction or a management decision with a colleague or supervisor out of fear that your views could jeopardize your career or professional advancement,” we found that 44% of the respondents said “yes.”
- In sum, a substantial portion of respondents are worried about their career prospects based on their religious or political beliefs.
- We also find that roughly a fifth of respondents have encountered discrimination for respectfully communicating their religious or political viewpoint.
- The results suggest that companies could increase employee engagement and trust over their products and services by creating a climate where people feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of unintended consequences on their career and life.
