Many firms are trying to frame the debate

It is an old taboo! Long, American employees have avoided to disclose their political or religious opinions in their businesses. Yet, a few days of the presidential elections, many of them to unveil. Like of Amara Burmese, Dukas public relations agency, which has decorated his New York Office of a doll of cloth in the colors of the Republicans. For his part, Rachel Kempster, the publishing group DK Publishing, has posted a Obama poster on the door of his Office. Some wear badges, t-shirts and stick stickers on their car. Others follow the campaign on YouTube, send short messages on Twitter to their colleagues or remake the world before the coffee machine.

To the chagrin of some managers! "These conversations can contribute to worsening relations between employees, ensures Sue Thompson, Director of corporate services in the financial business Set Free Life Seminars, which employs 300 people. In the premises of my business, I have heard, recently an employee raising voice to shout his colleague: "Joe Biden is awesome and Sarah Palin is an idiot!" It has ice me! Another was launched, threatening: "is that you dare treat me racist, simply because I am against the policy of Obama" When you claironnez your political opinion, everyone is tense.

Harmful to productivity

As carrying weapons to abortion, the speeches of the candidates can unleash passions. Similarly, the origins of John McCain, Sarah Palin or Barack Obama may give rise to racist, sexist or religious skids. A study by Vault 500 professionals reveals that 46 of employees have already been witness to a political dispute in their workplace. Moreover, an employee three tells that a colleague has tried to influence his electoral choice.

To Julie Lenzer Kirk, who chairs the society of Path Forward International Council, concern about the elections in the business interferes with productivity: "during the presidential elections of 2004, she recalls, all the political trends were represented at the Office, for libertarians to the most conservative. And I had to prohibit these debates, no one worked!

Requires Web access, employees can spend hours to monitor the campaign. And, according to, Alex Slater, consultant policy of Glover Park Group, a good part of the 605 million to finance the campaign of Barack Obama, allegedly compiled by thousands of employees using the Internet and social in their workplace networks. "This election fascinates people." "The level of debate is very high, unlike the previous campaign where the war on terror was the main message martelé", says Alex Slater.

Rules of conduct

Some companies have taken their party. The Vault study reveals that 35 of the patterns do not hesitate to display their political opinions to their employees. And 9 of employees feel that his superior attempts to influence him.

Many firms are trying to frame the debate. A September poll by the Institute for Corporate Productivity 456 companies shows that 37.8 of surveyed companies have put in place of the rules of conduct. One-quarter (25.6) discourage political conversations at work. In 58.1 of the cases, they prohibit the wearing a badge or a militant sticker. And 74.4 of them prevent the dissemination of biased on professional tools such as the Intranet information, while 60 of the surveyed employers prohibit political discussion on blogs.

From California to Oklahoma or Ohio, the degree of tolerance varies with the regions. It also differs between cultures of businesses. "The political discussions are tolerated in most creative industries as agencies advertising or public relations, says Bill Perry, spokesman for the Institute for Corporate Productivity." In large conservative groups and some government agencies, the reserve is often.

Meanwhile, Stuart Sidle, Professor of industrial psychology was the University of New Haven, Connecticut, welcomed that some employees are passionate about the campaign: "When your employees discuss programs of the two candidates, for example on solar energy, you can identify business opportunities", he said. And to add, "If the employee spoke freely, if he can be himself, he feels confident, and more committed to his company." A condition, however, remain cautious: "Avoid controversial issues such as gender, age or racial origin, advises." Focus instead on the impact of programs on your card to pay.