Nearly one fourth of U.S. workers say top managers openly express political preferences at work. 13th Annual “Attitudes in the American Workplace” poll conducted by Harris Interactive for The Marlin Company.
July 25, 2007
North Haven, CT – Are politicians so busy talking they are not listening? A new national survey has found that 38% of U.S. workers feel that presidential candidates are not addressing workplace issues, including health care, retirement and pay. Another 23% of U.S. workers said they weren’t sure candidates were adequately addressing workplace topics.
The national survey was conducted in May and June 2007 by Harris Interactive® for The Marlin Company, The Workplace Communications Experts™ in employee communications.
“These findings provide a clear opportunity for political candidates,” said Frank Kenna III, president of The Marlin Company, which provides employee communication focusing on workplace health and safety, among other workplace issues. “Candidates are acting tone-deaf when it comes to US workers. Many voters spend half of their waking hours at work so what happens there is very important to them. Candidates need to do a better job showing that they’re in sync with those voters and their key workplace issues. That’s obviously not happening yet.”
The survey also found that nearly one out of four (24%) U.S. workers believe their top managers are openly expressing their political preferences at work. Those age 18 to 34 were more likely (33%) to say they have managers who made it clear which political candidates they preferred, compared to 16% of those age 50 or older.
The survey showed that political talk at work can make some employees uncomfortable. Over a quarter (26%) of those polled said they do not fit in with their company’s culture in terms of politics. However, men were more likely to say they fit in the company culture, with 75% indicating so, compared to 64% of women.
“The survey results suggest that we need to do a better job training managers to keep their political opinions to themselves,” said Mr. Kenna. “Managers need to walk a much finer line than other employees. Employees may feel unwanted pressure -- whether intended or not -- from managers who enthusiastically support a candidate, which can make for an uncomfortable work environment.”
The survey found generational differences between younger and older workers regarding talking politics at work. Younger employees (age 18 to 34) were more likely to be comfortable sharing their political views (76%), compared to 64% of those age 50 or older. Younger employees were also more likely (84%) than older workers (68%) to say they were comfortable telling their boss which candidates they support.
The survey has a sampling error for the overall results of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
For further detail on the results and supporting data, please see http://www.themarlincompany.com/MediaRoom/Releases/HarrisResults2007.pdf
About the Survey
Harris Interactive® conducted the telephone survey in the U.S. on behalf of The Marlin Company between May 21 and June 14, 2007 among 752 U.S. adults ages 18 or older who are employed full or part-time. Figures for age, race/ethnicity, education, income, and region were weighted, where necessary, to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting. With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 752, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-3.6 percentage points. Sampling error for subsamples would be higher and would vary. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About The Marlin Company
For more than 90 years, The Marlin Company has been the Workplace Communication Experts™, helping companies improve employee morale, productivity and performance through the innovative use of workplace posters and electronic message boards. Its corporate posters and electronic display systems, which contain content customized by industry, are helping companies of all sizes address workplace issues, such as safety, stress management, health/wellness, communication with employees and dozens of other topics involving workplace morale and customer service. Through its many years of experience, The Marlin Company has developed a strong database of, and experience in, issues affecting the workplace. It routinely surveys thousands of clients to determine their current issues, works with industry experts across North America, and conducts national polling. Since 1995, it has conducted its annual "Attitudes in the American Workplace" Labor Day poll. In the early years, the Gallup Organization conducted the polling. Harris Interactive has done so since 2001. For more information, please see www.themarlincompany.com.
Contacts: Wendy Marx, Marx Communications (203-445-2850 or wendy @ marxcommunications.com)
Tori Brown, Marx Communications (203-445-2851 or tori @ marxcommunications.com)
Frank Kenna, The Marlin Company (203-239-5801 ext.227 or fkenna @ themarlincompany.com)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/workplace_issues/political_preference/prweb542368.htm
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