June Monthly Briefing: Taking a political stance Our views on what matters |
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It’s becoming ever more difficult for businesses to stay silent on issues that historically have sat firmly in the political domain, or that companies were able to ignore.
LGBTQ+, sexual harassment, abortion and immigration are just some of the issues on which businesses are being forced to take a stance, and not because of public pressure or the actions of campaign groups. It’s employees who are increasingly looking to the leaders of their business to use their voice and take a stand on political and social issues that relate to their business activities, corporate purpose and institutional values.
Many business leaders will see this as a challenge. Others however, are recognizing the opportunity this presents to authentically demonstrate how their purpose and values as an organisation aren’t simply well thought-through and carefully crafted pieces of communication but are what the business genuinely stands for. While this will inevitably alienate some customers and even employees, it will also engage others, and it’s increasingly what’s expected of businesses. Will the risk of not taking a stance be worth it?
Neil Davy
CEO, Corporate Citizenship
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| | | Google’s challenge to align corporate stance with subsidiary Youtube’s actions
How this weekend’s Pride parade in San Francisco created more uncomfortable headlines for Google due to the disconnect between its corporate stance and its subsidiary YouTube’s brand actions.
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| | Anti-abortion law and the inconsistent stance of Netflix and Disney
Over 200 US CEOs have signed a letter to the NY Times, claiming that restricting abortion is bad for business. This deep and divisive issue for many industries is also revealing the inconsistent stance of some, including the largest production companies, Netflix and Disney.
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| | Unilever CEO warns of 'woke-washing' ads
Speaking at Cannes Lions festival earlier this month, Unilever’s new CEO, Alan Jope, warned against brands launching campaigns that take a stance that is not rooted in a strong corporate purpose.
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| | Brands taking a stand: Why authenticity is key
One recent survey of US consumers, found that 66% want companies to take a stand on social and political issues. Businesses may draw controversy by speaking on controversial topics, but they also have the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on society.
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| | Learning from Levi’s: By taking a principled stand, businesses show society what is possible
David Logan, co-founder of Corporate Citizenship, talks about how Levi Strauss & Co avoided being embroiled in a harmful “political” debate, by doing the right thing for the right reasons.
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| | Business Taking a Political Stance at our LBG Mid-Year Event in Manchester
On 13 June, we hosted our LBG Mid-Year event at Siemens office in Manchester. This year’s topic focused on how high-impact community investment initiatives increasingly require an element of political advocacy.
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