The impact of divisive political conflict in the workplace on team creativity and satisfaction in virtual teams

The past decade has seen an increasing rift in political ideologies, culminating in the extreme polarization during the past election. The unusual aspect of these elections has been the existence of ideological divisions within traditionally homogeneous groups like families and friends. This state of unrest compounded by the merging of personal and professional life due to the presence of social media has made it difficult for individuals to keep their ideological values hidden from their colleagues. Therefore, it is not surprising that political tensions have permeated the workplace. These conflicts seem to be especially influential in virtual teams given the delicate nature of their relationships. Indeed, it seems inevitable that the satisfaction and creativity of such teams would be impacted. This research investigates the direction and magnitude of this impact along with an exploration of the causal factors for such reactions, including trust, psychological safety, and prevention focus.