The 2024 election is quickly approaching. Here’s how experts say employers should deal with political tensions in the workplace

While November may seem quite a ways away, the U.S. general election is quickly approaching, and employers would be remiss to ignore how the tense political climate could impact the workplace.

Politics can create unsettling situations in the office, from workers distraught over election outcomes to disputes between colleagues over political differences. With election cycles starting earlier and earlier, employers are already bracing for the worst. 

In my latest story for Fortune, several corporate executives and workplace experts I spoke with shared advice and best practices for managers dealing with politics in the workplace. Their guidance includes:

—Establishing a uniform approach to address political issues at work

—Coaching leaders on what they should and should not say about politics

—Training managers to handle political tensions between employees, and de-escalate any possible arguments

—Creating policies about social media conduct

Ultimately, how employers address politics within their workforces depends on several factors including legal risks, a company’s relationship with its employees, and how management has responded to political issues in the past. But no matter the company, waiting until election season is in full swing to figure out a game plan is the wrong move. 

“If we’re having this conversation tomorrow, then we’re having the conversation too late. Because we’re already in the middle of the political season,” Jeremy Thompson, a senior vice president at Edelman Global Advisory, a boutique firm focused on government, public affairs, and advisory services, told me. “We should have already been prepared for what’s coming.”

Read the full story here.

Paige McGlauflin
paige.mcglauflin@fortune.com
@paidion

Today’s edition was curated by Emma Burleigh.

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