After two years of saying “stay out of it,” Americans may be cautiously shifting back the other way. The new Bentley-Gallup Business in Society survey found that a slim majority (51%) of Americans now support businesses speaking out on public issues—a 13-point jump from 2024.
But There’s a Twist: While the public wants companies to engage, employees do not want that conversation brought into the workplace. Six in ten Americans say their own employers should not publicly communicate about current issues. The result? A growing divide between what customers want to hear publicly and what employees want to hear at work.
What Americans Want to Hear About: Despite differing views by age, politics, and demographics, a majority of Americans say businesses should take a stand on:
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Mental health (62%)
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Healthcare issues (62%)
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DEI (54%)
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Free speech (52%)
Support for companies to weigh in on immigration policy also rose by 10 points this year.
Confidence and Credibility: Americans continue to show more confidence in business than in the federal government, and 87% believe companies have the power to make a positive impact. Yet only 60% say businesses are effective at doing so.
The biggest credibility gap? Healthcare benefits: While 96% of Americans rate high-quality employer-sponsored healthcare as important, just 29% think companies deliver effectively.
AI – Promise Meets Paranoia: Trust in companies’ responsible use of AI remains shaky—69% express little or no trust—but there is progress: an 8-point rise in those showing at least some confidence.
Looking Ahead: Curious how leaders are tackling these shifts? Join us October 21 for AI and the Future of Work: From Hype to Impact, featuring Nickle LaMoreaux, CHRO at IBM in conversation with Laszlo Bock, former Google CHRO and founder of the Berkeley Transformative CHRI Leadership Academy. Expect a thought-provoking discussion on what it really takes to implement AI responsibly—and redefine the future of work.
