We’re All Political Animals: Insights on Navigating Ideological Divisions at Work and in Daily Life

Abstract

Whether explicitly or implicitly, organizations often convey that taboo topics, like politics, should be avoided. But politics inevitably seeps into the workplace because ideological views are difficult to suppress and easy to infer. Quite notably, partisanship is one of the strongest identity markers that unites—or polarizes—people today. People tend to self-segregate into ideological echo chambers in their personal lives. But the workplace constitutes one conspicuous context that still requires people with diverse ideological views to regularly communicate and collaborate. And while people are reluctant to admit prejudice based on social-category differences, they freely report and exhibit out-party dislike and hostility. We contend that political (just like demographic) differences can be problematic if organizations do not learn to understand and embrace them, and that ignoring or suppressing such differences is a misguided strategy. The presentations in this symposium build on the reality of affective (political) polarization that increasingly characterizes today’s society but is largely overlooked in management research. Examining a range of a micro-level, dyadic phenomena, this body of empirical research aims to spotlight the interpersonal—especially relatable—side of political ideology among ordinary people at work and in daily life. Together, the four presentations illuminate the theoretical and practical importance of conducting research on a range of political topics despite—and perhaps especially in light of—their controversial nature. We’re All Political Animals: Insights on Navigating Ideological Divisions at Work and in Daily Life Presenter: Brittany Solomon; U. of Notre Dame Presenter: Juliana Schroeder; U. of California, Berkeley Presenter: Michael Rosenblum; NYU Stern School of Business Presenter: Jeffrey Martin Lees; Princeton U. Presenter: Haley Todd; Clemson U. Presenter: Maxwell Barranti; York U.