The data from the 2026 Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Survey reveals a decline in American support for businesses taking public stances on current events. Key points include:
-
Overall Support: In 2026, 47% of adults believe businesses should express views on current issues, down from 51% in 2025 and aligning closely with the initial figure recorded in 2022 (48%). A majority (53%) now opposes such corporate stances.
-
Demographic Variations:
- Support is notably higher among Democrats (62%) compared to independents (45%) and Republicans (28%).
- Young adults (18-29) show more support (60%) versus older adults (60+) at 38%.
- Women (51%) are more supportive than men (41%).
-
Issue-Specific Stance:
- Majority support remains for issues like free speech (58%) and climate change (58%).
- Concerns about sensitive issues such as abortion (22%) and religion (16%) continue to attract less corporate support.
- Support for certain contentious issues decreased slightly, particularly among Democrats.
-
Employee Preferences:
- Most employees (56%) prefer that their employers remain silent on current events, although there’s a slight increase in openness compared to the previous year.
-
Conclusion: The findings indicate a cooling appetite for corporate activism in 2026, with significant divisions based on demographics. For business leaders, understanding employee preferences is crucial, as they often prefer silence on public issues outside their scope of influence.
For detailed insights, refer to the full survey report from Gallup.
