Stick To Business
That’s increasingly becoming the mantra of Americans…multiple polls this year show that fewer Americans support corporate involvement in political advocacy and social issues.
A Bentley University/Gallup poll earlier this year showed that a majority of Americans believe companies should not make public statements on current events.
Now comes word from the Public Affairs Council, showing that support for corporate engagement in politics has dropped almost 10 percent from last year alone.
This comes at a time when corporate leaders are cautious about becoming the next Disney, Bud Light, or Target…and apparently with good reason.
Some examples from the Public Affairs Council poll…last year, nearly two thirds of Americans, 66 percent, approved of major companies being involved in ending racial discrimination. This year, that number was only 57 percent. Public backing for corporate engagement around abortion also fell, from 41 to 36 percent.
But it’s not just fear of backlash that leads business leaders to pay attention. This same poll showed that businesses remain one of the most trusted sources for news and information, trailing only friends and family members.
So the challenge appears to be finding ways to be leaders and good citizens, without getting caught in political crosshairs. Easy to identify, far harder to execute.
