As free speech debates continue to flare across the U.S., MyPerfectResume released their latest Freedom of Speech in the Workplace Report, which shows that many workers fear the consequences of saying the wrong thing. The report found that 74% of employees say they self-censor at work, especially around political beliefs.
The data reveals that there is a stark disconnect between what companies say and how employees actually feel. While many leaders encourage open dialogue in the workplace, the majority of employees said they feel a need to censor their opinions, especially when it comes to political dialogue. According to the report, 68% of employees have held back their opinions due to concerns about how their political affiliation might be received.
A fear of backlash from executive leadership and colleagues is shaping employees’ behavior. The report found that 43% of workers have witnessed or experienced some form of discrimination related to political expression in the workplace. Additionally, 41% of employees felt pressured to agree with a workplace stance on a social or political issue to fit in or avoid conflict.
The data reveals that not only are employees uncomfortable with expressing their opinions; the majority are afraid. Many workers believe that expressing a wrong view could damage their reputation or even their career.
The report also reveals that employees are torn between the ideal of free expression and the need for harmony in the workplace. While workers believe in the right to speak freely, they’re also wary about how that plays out in reality. While 82% of employees said they should be able to criticize company policy without fear and 44% want more open-speech policies, 41% said that current policies are acceptable. Additionally, 15% of workers said they would like to see even tighter restrictions to preserve professionalism.
Overall, employees want to see guidance and consistency. The report found that while workers don’t want politics to dominate their professional environment, they are looking to leaders to find and maintain a sense of balance when it comes to free speech.
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