WASHINGTON, D.C. — After several years of declining support, a growing number of Americans once again believe companies should speak out on current social and political issues.
The 2025 Bentley University-Gallup Business in Society survey finds that 51% of U.S. adults believe companies should take a public stance on current issues, a 13-percentage-point increase from 38% in 2024. This marks a reversal of the downward trend that began after 2022, when support stood at 48%.
Americans are now closely divided on the issue, with 49% saying businesses should not take a stance. In 2023 and 2024, Americans leaned more decisively toward the “no” position.
These findings from the latest Bentley University-Gallup Business in Society report are based on a web survey with 3,007 U.S. adults conducted from May 5-12, 2025, using the probability-based Gallup Panel.
Support for businesses taking a public stance increased by at least 10 points in most major demographic subgroups in 2025. As in the past, support remains unevenly distributed across the population, skewing highly Democratic.
Solid majorities of self-identified Democrats, Asian Americans, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, younger adults and female respondents now say businesses should take a public stance. In contrast, less than half of older, White and male respondents, and about a third of self-identified Republicans, agree — although support grew among these groups as well.
Expanding Support, Expanding Issues
Americans were also asked whether businesses should take public stances on 12 different topics ranging from climate change and healthcare to immigration and international conflicts. The question was also asked in the 2023 and 2024 surveys.
Support rose for businesses speaking out on all 12 subjects between 2024 and 2025, reflecting a broad-based shift in public expectations for corporate engagement. The gains spanned all demographics, including political affiliations.
Some of the most notable increases over the past year include support for businesses speaking out on immigration (41% in 2025, up from 31% in 2024), free speech (58% vs. 48% in 2024) and international conflicts (33% vs. 24% in 2024).
Five issues received majority backing for corporate statements, up from three in 2024. Free speech and healthcare emerged as new additions to the majority-supported list, joining climate change, mental health, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Employees Have Less Appetite to Hear From Their Own Employers
When asked for the first time in 2025 whether their own employer should communicate a stance to employees on current events, the majority of employed Americans (60%) would prefer they not do so. This suggests that while people may support businesses speaking out publicly, they are more cautious about such communication in the workplace.
The demographics of employees who want to hear from their employers on social and political issues largely mirror those of Americans who believe companies should take a public stance:
- Younger workers, Black or Hispanic employees, and Democrats are significantly more likely to want their employers to speak out to employees. At least half in these groups say their employers should communicate where they stand to them.
- In contrast, majorities of employees over age 30, White and Asian employees, Republicans and political independents tend to prefer their employers stay away from pronouncements on such matters.
When asked about 12 specific public policy topics, more than half of employed Americans say they want their employer to communicate a stance to employees on just four of them: mental health (62%), healthcare issues (62%), diversity, equity and inclusion (54%), and free speech (52%).
The top three topics — mental health, healthcare, and diversity, equity and inclusion — directly relate to matters employers typically deal with in hiring, workplace policies and employee benefits. Employees likely recognize those connections when expressing greater interest in hearing from their employer about them.
Implications
The 2025 Bentley University-Gallup findings reveal a strategic crossroads for business leaders navigating increasingly complex stakeholder expectations.
Public support for corporate activism is rising again, with more Americans saying they want companies to take stances on social and political issues and wanting to hear more on all subjects. However, employed adults are more cautious about employers engaging in current events internally, except when it comes to topics squarely within the employer’s sphere of influence.
Ultimately, the data underscore an important insight for businesses: What they say, and who they say it to, matters. What customers expect to hear from companies publicly and what employees are comfortable hearing in the workplace may not be the same.
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