The survey shows that 70% of workers see threats related to political differences

WASHINGTON (TNND) — New data reveals that significant numbers of US workers are experiencing or witnessing escalating tensions, threats and even violence over political disagreements.

Conformable Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Civility Index:

• 70% of US workers report that they have experienced and/or witnessed people threatening each other in their daily lives because of differences in political opinions.
• 69% of US workers have experienced and/or witnessed violence towards each other in their daily lives because of a difference in political opinion.
• 78% of American workers surveyed reported experiencing or witnessing poor treatment because of their political views in their daily lives.

Jim Link, director of human resources for SHRM, said there are a few reasons for those numbers.

“Some of the reasons driving it are certainly the prolific use of social media and digital technology to share knowledge and information,” he noted. “There’s a lot at stake, no matter which side of the fence you fall on, and people tend to be somewhat polarized in their views right now on these issues.”

Workers who added links must speak up and report uncivil behavior, harassment, discrimination and violence.

With the election next week, the responsibility to speak out about this behavior is more urgent now than ever.

About half of our working population, on average, will feel like they’ve lost or won, but that gives every employer a unique opportunity to push back the boundaries of empathetic listening and dialogue and really engage with each other in a way who is respectful, kind and civil,” Link explained.

“Leaders need to make it clear that civility is a requirement in the workplace. It needs to make it very clear that it is good to be kind to each other again in our dialogue, in the way we approach each other, in the expectations and mutual respect we have. we should ask each other,” he encouraged. “When dialogue is involved, there must be both an active speaker and an active listener, and we seem to have forgotten that lost art of active communication. And then finally, managers and leaders must address uncivil behavior whenever it occurs. “

According to SHRM, reduced productivity and absenteeism due to incivility costs American businesses an estimated $2.17 billion daily.