10 Ways Political Bias Influences Hiring, Pay, and Promotions in the Workplace
“Leave politics at the door” is a common mantra, but research shows political bias is already shaping workplaces. Here’s what studies from Brazil reveal about how political identity affects employment and company performance.
1. Workers Prefer Like-Minded Employers
Research shows workers are 60% more likely to be employed by an owner who shares their political beliefs than one who doesn’t. This effect, called assortative matching, is stronger than preferences based on gender or race.
2. Political Identity is Visible Everywhere
Political cues can be found in CVs, LinkedIn profiles, WhatsApp groups, and everyday conversations. These subtle signals nudge managers toward familiar candidates, even without explicit instructions.
3. Political Bias is Growing
Over the last two decades, political alignment has become an increasingly important factor in hiring, making workplaces more ideologically homogeneous.
4. Social Networks Play a Role, but Only Partly
Like-minded individuals often move in the same circles, share job openings, and give referrals. While this explains some bias, political preferences remain strong even when networks are weak, suggesting a direct influence from owners.
5. It’s Not About Quid Pro Quo
Contrary to some assumptions, hiring fellow party members is rarely about gaining political favors. Evidence shows political bias exists even in sectors with minimal political dependence.
6. Political Discrimination is Real
Owners often favor candidates with similar political beliefs:
- Taste-based discrimination: Owners prefer like-minded employees.
- Belief-based discrimination: Owners assume these employees will be more productive.
In surveys, nearly a third of business owners admitted they consider politics when hiring. Field experiments confirmed this preference, even when candidates had identical qualifications.
7. Promotions and Pay Favor Copartisans
Workers aligned politically with owners:
- Are more likely to be promoted from blue-collar to white-collar roles
- Earn 1.5–3.4% more than unaffiliated colleagues
Opposing-party employees often earn less and advance more slowly.
8. Bias Persists Across Roles
Even when adjusting for education, age, gender, and race, politically aligned workers enjoy advantages. The premium cannot be explained by voluntary preference for like-minded employers.
9. Political Alignment Can Hurt Company Performance
Staffing to match political beliefs does not improve teamwork:
- Managers who share the owner’s politics are often less educated
- Companies with more politically aligned employees grow more slowly
In short, political bias reduces overall business performance.
10. Implications for HR and Leadership
Political identity is a real and measurable source of workplace bias. To ensure fairness and improve performance:
- Recognize political bias in hiring and promotions
- Treat political alignment like other forms of discrimination
- Resist the pull of ideological conformity to gain a competitive advantage
Bottom line: Political identity quietly shapes who gets hired, promoted, and paid—and managing this bias is now a crucial part of organizational governance.