MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Presidential candidates aren't
the only ones campaigning this election season. In a recent survey, more than
half (53 percent) of employees interviewed said the level of office politics
in their workplaces has increased compared to five years ago; just 12 percent
of respondents reported a decline. While most workers don't advocate jumping
into the political fray, a majority agree that a little knowledge can be
power: More than half (54 percent) say it's wise to be aware of political
undercurrents in the office without becoming directly involved.
The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest
specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping
professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based
on telephone interviews with 522 workers 18 years of age or older and employed
in an office environment.
Employees were asked, "In your opinion, has the level of office politics
in the workplace increased or decreased compared to five years ago?" Their
responses:
Increased greatly 20%
Increased somewhat 33%
Neither increased nor decreased 25%
Decreased somewhat 9%
Decreased greatly 3%
Don't know/no answer 10%
100%
Employees were asked, "Which of the following best describes your opinion
on office politics?" Their responses:
It's best to know what's going on
but not participate directly 54%
It's best to stay out of
office politics completely 29%
It's best to participate so
you can get ahead 16%
Don't know/no answer 1%
100%
Because a certain amount of workplace politics exists in nearly every
organization, it's wise for employees to recognize office dynamics, according
to Accountemps. Following are some common "political players" and tips for
interacting with them:
* The Pundit. This person loves to talk office politics and rarely tires
of speculating about what's really happening. While the Pundit may provide
useful insights on occasion, it's best not to share too much information with
this individual, as it could fuel the rumor mill.
* The Lobbyist. The Lobbyist is a strong advocate for his or her projects
and is adept at gaining buy-in for ideas. While some Lobbyists are effective
at building cross-departmental support, others may be unreceptive to outside
points of view. When interacting with this person, be aware of the agenda
being pushed, and be willing to stand up for your ideas.
* The Covert Operator. The Covert Operator often uses manipulation rather
than hard work to get ahead. While this type of person can be charming, keep
your guard up when dealing with anyone who criticizes a coworker or takes
credit for other people's projects.
* The Activist. This professional likes to facilitate change within an
organization and is quick to take on causes, even those that don't necessarily
advance the company's big-picture goals. While the Activist can be a valuable
advocate, carefully evaluate the merit of the issues when asked for support.
* The Advisor. This person often is closely aligned with a company's
leadership and serves as their "eyes and ears." For example, the Advisor could
be a senior aide or an executive assistant. Because the Advisor wields
significant behind-the-scenes influence, develop a good rapport with him or
her.
Accountemps has more than 360 offices worldwide and offers online job
search services at http://www.accountemps.com.
SOURCE Accountemps
Michael Weiss of Accountemps, +1-650-234-6383, michael.weiss@rhi.com
