Gen Z leads political discourse in Indian workplaces: Indeed Report

A striking 82 percent of employees described the overall office atmosphere surrounding these discussions as "heated and divided.”

A new study by job portal Indeed reveals a significant generational divide in attitudes towards political discussions at workplaces across India, as the country awaits the results of its general election.

The research shows that Gen Z employees (born 1997-2012) are the most enthusiastic about engaging in cross-partisan discourse, with 64 percent actively participating in political conversations at their workplaces. This contrasts with 54 percent of Gen X employees (born 1965-1980) and 55 percent of Baby Boomers (born 1955-1964).

Additionally, the study found that Gen Z (46 percent) and Millennial (65 percent) workers are more comfortable working alongside colleagues with opposing political views compared to Gen X (38 percent) and Baby Boomers (38 percent).

The survey, conducted from March to April 2024, included responses from more than 2,600 employees and over 1,200 employers across various age groups, regions, and industries.

A striking 82 percent of employees described the overall office atmosphere surrounding political discussions as "heated and divided." More than half (56 percent) admitted to feeling discomfort during such conversations, indicating potential strains on employee well-being and workplace cohesion.

To maintain a respectful environment, many companies are striving for neutrality (44 percent) and establishing clear codes of conduct (34 percent). Meanwhile, a significant 43 percent are encouraging open but bounded dialogue between employees with differing views.

A matter of setting and leadership

Employees report these sensitive discussions often take place during informal workplace gatherings (14 percent), on social media (14 percent), and over lunch breaks (11 percent) – rather than official meetings.

Interestingly, while nearly half (49 percent) of employers expressed concerns about stereotyping or prejudiced behaviours stemming from political talk, over one-third (34 percent) of workers say their sense of support is not significantly impacted by their leader's political leanings. This points to employees' nuanced ability to separate partisan differences from organizational goals and leadership competency.

"India's vibrant young workforce is ushering in a new era of open discourse and diversity of thought," said Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales at Indeed India. "As digitally-native Gen Z brings fresh perspectives, employers must be proactive in shaping an inclusive culture that constructively channels this energy,” he added.