How Can We Stop Losing Top Talent to Office Politics? Seeking Advice and Solutions

Dear HR Professional,

Some workplace politics, office politics, or organizational politics are occurring in our company. However, we are unable to observe these occurrences. Due to these political reasons, high-performing employees are resigning from our company one by one. During exit interviews, these resigned employees mention that they are leaving their jobs due to internal politics.

How can we prevent these situations from happening? Please provide clarification.

Thanks with Regards,
Thirumurugan

Hello, this is a culture issue. To address it and build a positive culture, you need to get the top management/senior leadership on board. Without their support, you cannot successfully implement any changes. You should have discussions with your senior leaders about the problem of attrition and its underlying reasons. Emphasize the importance of transforming the culture by reducing politics, backbiting, and conflicts.

B. Saikumar

Addressing Office Politics Through HR Analytics

Office politics is a universal phenomenon; it happens everywhere! To tackle this, please work on HR Analytics for fiscal year attrition with documented evidence of reasons for resignation. Create an exit form if you do not have one. Compile the last year's data with reasons and map it with the ratings of critical and key talent exiting or resigned employees. This data will reflect which talent is leaving the organization.

Present this data to top management as part of the monthly review or any structured review. Culture is mostly top-driven, and your task should be to communicate lapses or eroding culture status with data. I am sure seniors will listen, especially when the data is authentic. Good luck!

"How can we stop those things?"

What is it that you want to stop - office politics or people mentioning this aspect during exit interviews.

Understanding the Real Reasons for Resignations

Office politics is a common issue. However, are you sure that the high performers are resigning due to politics only, or could there be other reasons? Exit interviews are often just a formality, and employees may not disclose the true reasons for their resignation. If management wants to know the real reasons, employees might provide other explanations. It's important to talk to a cross-section of employees from top to bottom in the hierarchy to elicit the real reasons for resignations.

Building Trust and Changing the Atmosphere

Try to understand the real problem and work to solve it gradually. Build trust and confidence with the employees, or try to bring about a change in the company's atmosphere.

In one company where I worked, before my joining, two young girls committed suicide amidst allegations that top management raped and killed them. The employees went on strike, and the matter was discussed in the state assembly. Most of the staff members, including the plant head, were severely affected by the police.

After the end of the strike, I joined as a Manager. The atmosphere was very tense and suspicious.

Please let me know if you need further assistance.