Impact of Presidential Election on Careers: Workers Split on Positive vs. Negative Outcomes

Impact of Presidential Election: FlexJobs report from October 7 reveals that 32% of survey respondents anticipate the November election will significantly affect their careers, even though most American workers do not share this sentiment. Among those expecting an impact, 19% believe it will be positive, while 13% foresee negative consequences.

Additionally, 22% of all workers reported feeling more stressed at work due to the current political climate. According to the Politics at Work Pulse Report, the divide in perceptions highlights varying levels of concern regarding the upcoming election’s influence on professional life.

But more than half (68%) of those surveyed don’t think the election will have an impact on their careers. Nevertheless, according to 22% of employees surveyed, the present political atmosphere at work is leading to increased stress.

FlexJobs discovered the following among men and women surveyed regarding the perceived effects of the election on their careers:

• No impact on career: women, 70%; men, 64%
• Significant, positive impact on career: women, 17%; men, 22%
• Significant, negative impact on career: women, 13%; men, 14%

According to Toni Frana, lead career expert at FlexJobs,“With the November election only weeks away and political discussions continuing to heat up, the political climate is understandably top of mind for most professionals,” “And even though the majority of people do not believe the election will have an impact on their job directly, challenges like inflation and economic instability have heightened workers’ concerns related to career security and financial goals.”

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Increasing Costs and Stress at Work: The Main Issues with the Current Political Environment

Many survey participants have different opinions about the current political environment, despite the fact that the majority do not believe that the upcoming election will have any effect on their careers.

The top ways that professionals feel that the current political environment has impacted their careers were found in a FlexJobs survey:

• Increased expenses due to inflation or economic instability: 31%
• Increased stress and anxiety related to job security and financial stability: 30%
• Difficulty finding new employment or opportunities: 27%
• Higher stress at work: 22%
• Increased awareness of social justice and equity issues: 21%
• Loss of income, benefits, or hours: 19%
• Reduced earning potential or salary stagnation: 19%
• Changes in workplace policies or practices: 15%
• Greater discrimination or bias in the workplace: 15%
• Shifts in company culture and values: 15%
• Feelings of isolation or disconnection from colleagues: 13%
• Changes in career goals or aspirations: 13%
• Greater focus on work-life balance and personal well-being: 11%
• Forced career change: 11%

Men and women showed similar results, with the top career factors impacted being reduced income, work-related stress, and employment opportunities.

Considered Career Elements Affected by Current Political Situation

Based on a poll of men and women, the following are the top career factors that are impacted by the current political environment:

• Difficulty finding new employment: women, 27%; men, 26%
• Higher stress at work: women, 21%; men, 24%
• Reduced earning potential or salary stagnation: women, 20%; men, 19%
• Loss of income, benefits, or hours: women, 19%; men, 21%

The Political Position of the Company Affects Talent Attraction and Retention

Despite varying views on the upcoming election’s impact on careers, a significant majority (60%) of respondents in FlexJobs’ Politics at Work Pulse Report indicated that a company’s political stance affects their decision to work there.

Here’s a summary of how a company’s political position influences career choices:

• A factor, but not the most important one: 25%
• A minor factor, but not a deal-breaker: 22%
• A major deciding factor: 13%

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Relationship Between Political Attitude of the Company and Employment Decisions

60% of women agreed that a company’s political views were very important in their hiring decisions. Only 58% of men agreed with this statement.

In general, there was minimal difference between the ways that men and women weighed a potential employer’s political stance when making employment decisions:

• Not a factor in career decisions: women, 40%; men, 42%
• A factor, but not the most important one: women, 25%; men, 24%
• A minor factor, but not a deal-breaker: women, 22%; men, 21%
• A major deciding factor: women, 13%; men, 13%

71% of respondents say they would work (20%) or consider working (51%), even if the company supported policies and practices they don’t agree with, if the job was appealing because of things like good pay and role fulfillment.

Willingness to Work for a Company Where Policies and Practices Conflict

About 29% of those who answered said they would “absolutely not” work for a company whose policies or practices went against what they believed in.

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The fact that more women than men were hesitant to join an organization whose policies did not match their values is noteworthy. This is how men and women feel about working for a company with policies that are at odds with each other:

• Maybe: women, 50%; men, 53%
• Absolutely not: women, 30%; men, 26%
• Yes: women, 20%; men, 21%