Trump, Australian federal election 2025: How to discuss politics respectfully at work

The federal election, US President and Gaza conflict are among the hot-button issues to tread carefully around in the office. Experts weigh in on how colleagues can discuss them respectfully.

Talking politics at work can have devastating consequences on employee wellbeing, experts say, leaving workers in fear of judgement, exclusion and backlash from colleagues.

Discussion of hot-button issues – whether it be the federal election, US President Donald Trump or the Gaza conflict – is significantly impacting the mental health of workers, especially those with opposing or minority views.

Despite it also affecting productivity at work, many companies feel powerless to intervene, with those who have moved to ban talk of taboo topics facing staff resignations and accused of gagging free speech.

Instead, workers are being urged to take responsibility for their own comments, consider the feelings of others and ensure work discussions are respectful.

“Conversations in the office can get quite heated and people seem to confuse freedom of speech with freedom of accountability,’’ people and behaviour expert Mark Carter says.

“Choose the conversations you are going to have (in the workplace) carefully.

“If you know (a particular topic) is going to be like a bomb going off, perhaps just leave it and choose another (conversation) to have.’’

Rich Hirst, co-founder and chief executive of Abundium, says talking politics at work can be risky.

The good and the bad

Talking politics at work can be a double-edged sword, says Rich Hirst – chief executive of Abundium, Australia’s only cross-industry network for senior leaders of foreign-owned companies.

He says workers with opposing political views often feel scrutinised and have a reduced sense of belonging and safety.

Friction between colleagues often follows, resulting in a lack of trust, an inability to focus on the job and a decline in productivity, Hirst says.

On the flip side, workers who share the same political beliefs can develop deeper bonds and closer working relationships, he says.

“It’s a tricky one. There can be lots of fallout (from workplace political talk), almost none of which is good,’’ Hirst says.

“In the worst-case scenario, people will actually leave (quit) because they don’t feel safe at work and that their opinions are going to be judged.

“But possibly even worse than that, they can’t afford to leave because they can’t find work elsewhere and they end up extremely burnt out or suffering psychological distress.’’

Instances of companies introducing policies to ban political expression in the workplace have almost always ended badly, Hirst says. He cites tech giants Google and Meta, who were accused of stifling free speech when they tried to clamp down on political discussion within their offices.

When US software company Basecamp imposed a worker ban on political conversations in 2021, a third of its staff resigned.

Talking about political topics, like the federal election, at work can help people process them – or lead to turmoil. Picture: Alex Ellinghausen via NewsWire

Making sense of a nonsensical world

In today’s uncertain political and economic climate, many workers seek to discuss current events to process what is happening and regain a sense of control, Hirst says.

But for others, work is an escape from world turmoil and discussing political issues with colleagues compounds a sense of doom.

Hirst advises those uncomfortable with topics discussed at work to redirect the conversation back to work-related issues or politely state their preference not to talk about non-work matters while on the job.

He says workers can also request a time-out and rescheduling of the topic later, which acknowledges the feelings of colleagues without escalating the issue.

Most importantly, workers should never feel harassed, bullied or discriminated against during work conversations and, if they do, they should report the matter to their manager or HR immediately, Hirst says.

Having healthy conversations

It is possible to disagree on political issues without being disrespectful, Carter says, adding every worker has a responsibility to ensure they are communicating with colleagues in a non-argumentative and non-threatening manner.

He says while some topics can cause unforeseen disagreements, there are obvious ones that should be avoided where possible or, at the very least, discussed with great care.

“The three big taboos – politics, religion and sex – are usually polarising subjects for the masses and they’re conversations I won’t have in certain places because I know it’s just not worth (the ramifications),’’ Carter says.

“But people get upset and offended by so many things so, if you don’t know (if a topic will provoke heated argument), don’t dive right in and blow up the bomb.

“Tiptoe in and start talking around the edges. If you get that feeling (the topic will create conflict) then you can withdraw, retreat and decide not to engage any further.’’

Frank Volckmar never discusses religion or politics at work.

Creating a safe workplace culture

Frank Volckmar makes it a habit to never discuss religion or politics at work, and says it’s a practise adopted by most workers at his software company.

“Politics and religion don’t have a place at work,” says Volckmar, managing director (Canada, Australia and NZ) of TCG Process.

“We’re there to be productive and to solve customer problems so we just don’t really talk about that stuff.

“The last thing I want to do is have those conversations and create an untrusting environment with the people I work with. I want to create a culture that’s safe for people.’’

Volckmar says while political conversations are avoided, he does not shy away from other difficult conversations, including the need to provide unfavourable feedback when warranted.

He says strong communication skills are vital to ensuring the discussions are respectful and non-confrontational.

Tips for respectful conversations at work

1. Instead of leaning out of the conversation, lean in. Seek to understand what makes your colleague passionate about a topic so you can identify values or experiences you have in common. Focusing on what you share, as opposed to how you are divided, can help you get closer.

2. Calmly state your personal preference without judgement. Try, “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not get into political discussions at work”. This preserves professionalism while protecting your psychosocial safety.

3. Steer the conversation back to a neutral or work-related topic. Say, “Let’s save that one for after work. What’s the latest on that project deadline?” This protects productivity and signals a positive intent to stay on task.

4. Adopt shared phrases across the workplace to gently signal discomfort without confrontation. Low-friction expressions like, “Given that …” or “Say what?” help maintain a safe space for everyone.

5. If you’re caught off guard or unsure, it’s OK to slow things down. Say, “That’s a big topic – can we park it for now?” This signals awareness without escalating the issue.

Source: Rich Hirst, Abundium

Originally published as Trump, Australian federal election 2025: How to discuss politics respectfully at work