2017 Work and Well-Being Survey: Special Focus on Politics · 2017-05-03 · survey results released by the American Psychological Association. • The survey found that 26 percent

2017 Work and Well-Being Survey:Special Focus on PoliticsAmerican Psychological Association

May 2017

Executive Summary

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Executive Summary• American workers are more likely to say they are feeling stressed and cynical because of

political discussions at work now than before the 2016 presidential election, according to survey results released by the American Psychological Association.

• The survey found that 26 percent of full-time and part-time employed adults said they felt tense or stressed out as a result of political discussions at work since the election, an increase from 17 percent in September 2016 when they were asked about political discussions at work during the election season.

• More than one in five (21 percent) said they have felt more cynical and negative during the workday because of political talk at work, compared with 15 percent before the election, according to the survey from APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence.

• Half of the post-election survey respondents (54 percent) said they have discussed politics at work since the election, and for 40 percent of American workers, it has caused at least one negative outcome, such as reduced productivity, poorer work quality, difficulty getting work done, a more negative view of coworkers, feeling tense or stressed out, or increased workplace hostility. This is a significant increase from the pre-election survey data, when one in four (27 percent) reported at least one negative outcome.

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Executive Summary• Nearly one-third (31 percent) said they had witnessed coworkers arguing about politics, and

15 percent said they have gotten into an argument themselves. More than one in five (24

percent) said they avoided some coworkers because of their political views.

• About one in six experienced strained relationships as a result of political discussions at work

since the election: 16 percent said they have a more negative view of coworkers; 16 percent

felt more isolated from coworkers; 17 percent said team cohesiveness suffered; and 18

percent reported an increase in workplace hostility.

• Some said that political talk in the workplace has hurt their job performance: 15 percent said

they have had difficulty getting work done; 13 percent said their work quality has suffered;

and 14 percent said they have been less productive.

• Since the election, significantly more female workers reported feeling more cynical and

negative during the workday: 9 percent before the election, vs. 20 percent since. (For male

workers, 20 percent reported feeling cynical and negative before the election, vs. 23 percent

since).

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Executive Summary• Another notable finding from the survey is the difference in the way political

discussions at work since the election are affecting employees based on their political views. In the survey before the election, there were few differences across political party or philosophy on how talk of politics was affecting workers.

• Since the election, self-described liberals are more likely than moderates or conservatives to report feeling tense or stressed as a result of political discussions at work since the presidential election (38 percent, vs. 22 percent for moderates and 21 percent for conservatives) and perceive an increase in workplace hostility (26 percent, vs. 16 percent for moderates and 13 percent for conservatives).

• People who identified as liberal were also more likely to report that political discussions have made them feel more connected to coworkers (39 percent, vs. 28 percent for moderates, 25 percent for conservatives).

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Detailed Findings

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Discussions and Arguments About Politics

56%

48%

45%

31%

26%

11%

20%

60%

54%

51%

34%

31%

15%

24%

35%

Witnessed or overheard others discussing politics at work

Discussed politics at work

Discussed politics with a coworker who agrees

Discussed politics with a coworker who disagrees

Witnessed or overheard coworkers arguing about politics

Had an argument about politics with a coworker

Avoided some coworkers because of their political views

Spent more time on news websites and social media tokeep up with political issues

% YesDuring the U.S. Presidential Election Season Since the U.S. Presidential Election

7BASE: Employed FT/PT; n=1,311

I have…

Politics and Work Relationships

As a result of political discussions at work…

24%

23%

13%

13%

13%

13%

30%

29%

16%

16%

17%

18%

I feel more connected tocoworkers

I have a more positive view ofcoworkers

I have a more negative view ofcoworkers

I feel more isolated fromcoworkers

Team cohesiveness has suffered

Workplace hostility has increased

% Strongly Agree/Agree

During the U.S. Presidential Election Season Since the U.S. Presidential Election

8BASE: Employed FT/PT; n=1,311

Politics, Well-Being and Work Performance

17%

15%

10%

10%

13%

26%

21%

15%

13%

14%

I have felt tense orstressed out

I have felt more cynicaland negative at work

I have had moredifficulty getting work

done

My work quality hassuffered

I have been lessproductive at work

% Strongly Agree/AgreeDuring the U.S. Presidential Election Season Since the U.S. Presidential Election

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BASE: Employed FT/PT; n=1,311

Gender Comparison

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Discussions and Arguments About Politics by Gender

62%

52%

47%

36%

33%

18%

25%

62%

57%

54%

43%

36%

20%

24%

39%

49%

43%

41%

25%

18%

4%

14%

57%

50%

48%

45%

26%

10%

24%

31%








Spent more time on news websites and social media to keepup with political issues

% YesMen During the U.S. Presidential Election Season Men Since the U.S. Predidential Election

Women During the U.S. Presidential Election Season Women Since the U.S. Presidential Election

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I have…

PRE-ELECTION BASE: Employed FT/PT; n=1,311POST-ELECTION BASE: Employed FT/PT; n=927

Politics and Work Relationships by Gender

27%

24%

16%

16%

16%

18%

35%

35%

19%

19%

19%

21%

21%

22%

9%

9%

8%

8%

24%

21%

14%

13%

15%

14%

I feel more connected to coworkers

I have a more positive view of coworkers

I have a more negative view of coworkers

I feel more isolated from coworkers




Men During the U.S. Presidential Election Season Men Since the U.S. Presidential Election


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Politics, Well-Being and Work Performance by Gender

17%

20%

13%

14%

18%

27%

23%

18%

17%

17%

17%

9%

6%

5%

7%

25%

20%

12%

9%

12%

I have felt tense or stressed out

I have felt more cynical and negative at work

I have had more difficulty getting work done

My work quality has suffered

I have been less productive at work

% Strongly Agree/AgreeMen During the U.S. Presidential Election Season Men Since the U.S. Presidential Election


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Age Comparison

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Discussions and Arguments About Politics by Age

58%

53%

52%

37%

38%

24%

28%

40%

61%

51%

47%

33%

28%

14%

22%

34%

62%

58%

54%

33%

25%

5%

20%

30%

54%

45%

36%

17%

37%

13%

37%









% Yes

Millennial Gen X Boomer Mature

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Since the U.S. presidential election, I have…


Politics and Work Relationships by Age

42%

42%

27%

28%

28%

29%

26%

22%

14%

11%

12%

13%

18%

18%

5%

6%

9%

8%

7%

4%

9%

8%

9%









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As a result of political discussions at work since the presidential election…


Politics, Well-Being and Work Performance by Age

35%

30%

28%

25%

24%

23%

19%

9%

10%

11%

16%

13%

4%

2%

5%

2%

2%








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Political Party Comparison

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Discussions and Arguments About Politics by Political Party

56%

37%

20%

27%

42%

51%

28%

14%

21%

32%

57%

31%

12%

25%

34%






% Yes

Democrat Republican Independent

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Politics and Work Relationships by Political Party

40%

33%

19%

15%

20%

21%

27%

32%

17%

19%

19%

17%

23%

23%

14%

17%

13%

16%









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Politics, Well-Being and Work Performance by Political Party

30%

22%

16%

15%

15%

23%

22%

20%

17%

18%

25%

23%

11%

10%

12%








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Political Philosophy Comparison

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Discussions and Arguments About Politics by Political Philosophy

66%

40%

21%

30%

49%

48%

28%

14%

20%

30%

54%

30%

13%

25%

32%






% Yes

Liberal Moderate Conservative

23



Politics and Work Relationships by Political Philosophy

39%

34%

23%

21%

23%

26%

28%

26%

14%

14%

15%

16%

25%

29%

15%

16%

16%

13%









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Politics, Well-Being and Work Performance by Political Philosophy

38%

30%

21%

20%

20%

22%

18%

13%

10%

13%

21%

20%

14%

13%

12%








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MethodologyThe post-election data were collected online within the U.S. on APA’s behalf by Harris Poll from Feb. 16 -March 8, 2017, among 1,311 adults who are employed full time or part time. The data were collected as part of APA’s 2017 Work and Well-Being Survey, which was conducted among 1,512 U.S. adults who are employed full time, part time, or self-employed, of whom 1,311 were employed full time or part time.

The pre-election survey was conducted online within the U.S. on APA’s behalf by Harris Poll from Aug. 10-12, 2016, among a nationally representative sample of 927 adults who are employed full or part time. The pre-election data is from an online survey among 2,025 U.S. adults, of whom 927 were employed full time or part time.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Poll avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Poll panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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About the American Psychological Associationand APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.

APA's Center for Organizational Excellence works to enhance the functioning of individuals, groups, organizations and communities through the application of psychology to a broad range of workplace issues. The center houses the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program, a public education initiative designed to engage the employer community, raise public awareness about the value psychology brings to the workplace and promote programs and policies that enhance employee well-being and organizational performance. Connect with APA’s Center for Organizational Excellence on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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http://www.apa.org/

http://www.apaexcellence.org/

http://twitter.com/APA_excellence

http://www.facebook.com/healthyworkplace

http://linkedin.com/groups?homeNewMember=&gid=1961535

Documents

2017 Work and Well-Being Survey: Special Focus on Politics · 2017-05-03 · survey results released by the American Psychological Association. • The survey found that 26 percent