Georgia Executives Brace for Political Storm: How to Protect Workplace Culture
Thursday, August 29th, 2024
A new report by goBeyondProfit reveals a staggering 56% of executives and 45% of employees fear that politics will disrupt their company culture this year. As the political landscape in Georgia continues to heat up, so too does the potential for workplace disruption.
As the state prepares for a record-breaking $244 million in political advertising over the next three months, executives face the daunting challenge of shielding their workplaces from the divisive rhetoric. A toxic company culture can lead to increased tension, decreased productivity, and ultimately employee departures.
Executives should pay particular attention to their younger employees. Nearly half (47%) of Millennials and a shocking 59% of Gen Z employees worry about political disruption this year. Importantly, these generations are also most likely to leave a job due to a lack of generosity in business operations – which many consider to include positive company culture.
“Georgia’s pivotal role in the 2024 election cycle will undoubtedly bring many challenges to local businesses,” says Megan McCamey, Founding President of goBeyondProfit. “By prioritizing trust, transparency, and empathy, executives can weather the coming storm and maintain the positive company culture they have worked so hard to create.”
Fortunately, there is good news when it comes to trust. Despite the political climate, 87% of employees trust their senior leaders and 89% trust their managers. Data also illuminates ways executives can maintain and strengthen this trust.
The data points to three ways to build trust with employees:
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Open Communication: Make it easy for employees to bring forward questions and concerns.
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Frequent Updates: Keep employees informed about company developments and initiatives and address any concern promptly.
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Employee Input: Allow employees a role in decisions that affect their work.
The full report explores these findings in greater detail and offers resources to help companies implement these solutions.
About goBeyondProfit:
goBeyondProfit is a statewide alliance of more than 2,100 business leaders committed to operating generously and improving people’s lives.
