From the Ballot to the Office: Building an Election Toolkit for an Inclusive Workplace

Election season is upon us, and the stakes feel particularly high. 

For many, this election represents stark differences in the paths our country could take amid increased political polarization. It makes sense that people are experiencing strong feelings. In fact, 73% of Americans are anxious about the election.

As workplace leaders, we face a crucial question: How do we prevent our company culture from fracturing under the weight of political differences?

In this blog, we'll explore how to create an election toolkit that can help shield your workplace from political polarization and turn this challenging time into an opportunity to promote inclusivity and unity.

How elections impact employee mental health

How has this election cycle made you feel? Have you found yourself worrying about the future, experiencing sharp spikes in anxiety as endless new cycles loudly declare that the fate of our nation is at stake?

At this moment, many people feel a lack of control, a fear of the unknown, and discomfort with the divisiveness of heated political rhetoric. These feelings can have heavy impacts on mental health and even seep into the workplace.

Spring Health noted therapy requests surged by 2-3 times in the days following the assassination attempt of the former president. That's a clear sign that what happens in the news doesn't stay there–it can follow us home and to work.

It’s important for workplace leaders to remember that there's no "right" way for employees to feel during election season. Some people are anxious, others are energized, and many are in between. As leaders, we must create a space where all these feelings and opinions can coexist without disrupting our work or relationships.

Creating an election toolkit is a proactive measure

So, how do we best support our teams during the uncertainty of an election cycle? By being proactive, we can get in front of divisiveness to promote an inclusive and psychologically safe environment. After all, the workplace shouldn’t be a debate stage; for some, work is even their escape from the divisiveness of the outer world.

At Spring Health, we launched our election toolkit just before the last presidential debate in September. Here's what we included:

• Nonpartisan voting resources
• Clear policies on time off for voting
• Reminders of our company values, training, and guidelines for respectful dialogue
• Mental health resources
• Election-related manager support and conversation guides

Think of your toolkit as a compass for your team–helping everyone navigate the often choppy waters of election season while staying true to your company's values.

How to build your election toolkit

Step 1: Identify key stakeholders and get buy-in

When it comes to sensitive communications, getting stakeholder buy-in is crucial. Executives, for example, are uniquely positioned to set the tone, reinforce, and even act as executive sponsors for employee messaging. 

Here's how to approach getting buy-in:

• Involve executives in creating the toolkit messaging
• Leverage other influential groups, such as HR business partners and employee resource groups (ERGs), so that multiple voices are heard
• Ensure all key stakeholders fully align with the message

Organizational messages carry more weight when key stakeholders are on board from the beginning.

Step 2: Develop clear, holistic messaging

Your messaging should align with your company culture and values. Ask yourself:

"How can we root people in the shared experiences of our company culture to bring out their best selves during this time?"

For example, one of our values at Spring Health involves embracing diverse teams and perspectives. We wanted to remind our teammates of this value and our shared mission in the election toolkit. For your organization, consider:

• Rooting key messages in your core company values
• Including guidelines for respectful communication
• Reinforcing your shared organizational mission

What unique organizational values might shape your toolkit?

Make voting policies clear

Although elections can cause anxiety, there’s an element of control that comes with being able to vote, potentially strengthening mental health. Exercising the right to vote can be empowering as it gives people a platform to externalize their point of view.

So it’s important to be clear in advance about:

• Encouraging eligible employees to vote
• Guidelines around time off to vote, if needed
• Nonpartisan voting registration deadlines and polling locations

Depending on your employee population, advance work may be needed to coordinate schedules to cover responsibilities while people vote. Provide as much notice as possible on your company policies. 

Put mental health support front and center

Mental health support is always an important factor in employee well-being, but when outside events pose challenges, promoting mental health resources available to your employees can be especially helpful.

This might include benefits they always have access to, like therapy and coaching, along with guides or other resources specific to the world’s events.

Step 3: Equip leaders and managers

During challenging times, managers are often the first line of support for employees. So give them the training and resources they need in your election toolkit, such as:

• Resources for navigating difficult conversations
• Guidelines on setting a good example during the election cycle
• Tips for leading through election stress

• Tools for promoting a politically inclusive, neutral workplace culture

Every organization's needs are different. Evaluate where your managers are and what support they might need.

It’s common for people to have a binary perspective on politics. Election season is an excellent time for leaders to remind their workforce that we can recognize and normalize multiple truths. It’s not about who is right or wrong, but rather caring for ourselves and each other.

Step 4: Offer training that makes sense for your organization

Training should be holistic and tailored to your company's needs. For example, we integrated election-related discussions into our existing allyship and inclusion training. This approach allowed us to naturally incorporate conversations about inclusivity and openness to diverse viewpoints during election season.

For your organization, this might include:

• Offering workshops on maintaining respect for differing political views
• Highlighting how inclusive practices contribute to psychological safety
• Incorporating election-season lessons into year-round training initiatives

The goal is to create training that's applicable not only during elections, but also helps foster an inclusive and respectful culture every day.

Step 5: Consolidate guidelines into an accessible toolkit

Putting election resources into a singular toolkit, promoting it widely, and making it easily accessible during the election season helps reinforce the message.

This approach:

• Keeps election guidelines top of mind
• Provides a ready resource if issues arise
• Makes it easy for employees to find what they need

If and when election-related situations arise, you can direct employees to this comprehensive resource and reinforce the guidelines you proactively shared.

Proactivity is the key

While an election toolkit helps mitigate potential conflicts, its strength lies in encouraging a supportive work environment during turbulent times. Why does that matter? Because it:

• Sets a positive tone, showing employees their well-being is a priority.
• Grounds your team in shared company values when tensions rise.
• Encourages civic engagement by highlighting voting information.
• Builds skills—like respecting diverse views and open communication—that benefit your workplace long-term.

Your toolkit will have a lasting impact beyond this election. It's an investment in a more resilient, inclusive workplace culture. So, take that proactive step—your team and organization will be stronger for it.

‍Watch our latest webinar to discover how you can build a supportive, unified, and resilient workplace culture ready to navigate elections and societal events confidently.