As we edge closer to the 2024 election, now less than six months away, leaders should expect rising levels of election stress within their workplaces.
Four years ago, 68% of adults surveyed by the American Psychological Association said that the presidential election was a significant source of stress in their life. More recent research has shown that concerns about politics and social events can have a major impact on happiness, particularly for Gen Z and Millennial workers
For Greg Behrman, CEO of leadership network and advisory company NationSwell, there are clear reasons for businesses to act. “Business depends on our democratic system to flourish,” he says. “And business leaders know that key stakeholders really care, particularly employees.” One Edelman Trust Institute report showed that a majority of employees aged 18-54 would like their employers to cultivate civil discourse both in and out of the workplace, whether by training employees on how to engage constructively on contentious issues or providing information about political and social issues.