Managers and Senior Management Hold the Keys

If office politics are alive and well, who’s to blame? According to the survey results: management Overall, survey respondents said managers and senior management hold the most sway and responsibility over office politics.

More than nine in ten office workers (94 percent) say senior management have an obligation to make sure office politics is not allowed to get out of hand Specifically, one-third say managers (33 percent) and senior management (32 percent) have the most influence over the level of negative office politics in an organization, and almost one in five (17 percent) say the CEO and/or other CSuite executives do.

Who do you believe has the most influence over the level of negative office politics in an organization?

Managers

Senior management

CEO and/or other C-Suite executives

Support staff

Direct reports

None of these

Conclusion

Office politics is a full-contact sport As the data and our analysis suggest, it is survivable if there are rules and a referee Management and training, communications loops, and an ethical framework play a part in making office politics survivable

Workers need to feel empowered to change the office dynamic. Management can support workers by instituting better internal communications efforts and employee recognition programs By enacting these changes, management can do a better job of seeing and recognizing the contributions of staff so there is a decreased need for office politics

Workers want the opportunity to change the detrimental nature of office politics. This should be embraced by leadership in any business - especially those looking to maintain their most valuable asset - their employees

Many workers continue to work a hybrid work schedule, with those surveyed saying this schedule allows for decreased levels of office politics Businesses increasingly see value in allowing their employees this flexibility as long as productivity doesn’t decrease

Training and tools - either in-person or virtually - can help address difficult work situations and reset the course These are even more important when considering a fair number of respondents are less frequently in a traditional office setting post-Covid, with hybrid work schedules increasingly accepted as today’s norm This can provide opportunities for office politics to rear their ugly head, as staff will have less supervision from management

Dark days lie ahead for organizations that permit a toxic work culture due to office politics. For managers and employees who address the adverse behaviors of office politics, it could be the dawn of a new era