Survey Says… Too Much Political Correctness!
Summary
- According to a recent survey, overwhelmingly Americans believe corporations should steer clear of political issues.
- The current trend for companies to engage in one-sided political posturing is raising a backlash in public opinion at the moment.
According to a recent survey by PLUS Communications and GS Strategy Group, overwhelmingly Americans believe that Corporations should steer clear of divisive political issues.
- 81% of them believe that political correctness has gone too far.
- What should the priorities be for American Business?
"Q15. Which of the following issues do you think is most important for America's business community to address? [...]
"Promoting racial, gender, and LGBTQ equality through fair hiring practices 5.8%"
Human rights does even worse:
"Protecting human rights around the globe 5.3%"
Regarding our present culture of outrage:
"Q17. When it comes to political correctness, how should American businesses respond? [...]
"American businesses should adapt their business models and products to avoid offending certain consumers 22.8%
"There is no way for American businesses to make everyone happy. They need to run their businesses in a way that appeals to the broadest swath of Americans 65.5%
"Not sure 11.7"
According to the company press release:
"[...] [c]ompanies should stay neutral, not cater to the far left or right. Having a centrist image is key to maintaining or developing a positive image among customers."
The current trend for companies to engage in one-sided political posturing is raising a backlash in public opinion at the moment, and that backlash is already expressing itself in public commentary and in adverse political scrutiny.
If corporate managers want to embrace some fashionable cause for the sake of their reputations, or perhaps even out of genuine conviction, they should do so with their own time and on their own dime. But for them to drag their shareholders along with them is to misuse shareholder resources and to fail in their ethical responsibility to act in the best interest of their employers, the owners.
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