Issues Management
Public support for corporate engagement on social issues has rebounded to levels not seen in years, according to new survey data from Bentley University and Gallup.
The 2025 Business in Society report shows 51% of U.S. adults now believe companies should take public stances on current events, up 13 percentage points from 38% in 2024.
13 points from 2024The shift follows three years of declining support that began in 2022. Companies are recalibrating their approaches to issues management as stakeholder expectations grow more complex. Chief communication officers surveyed by the Arthur W. Page Society identified backlash against corporate ESG and DEI initiatives as their top business risk for 2025.
Corporate leaders face complex decisions about when and how to engage on social issues
The Bentley-Gallup survey, conducted with 3,007 U.S. adults from May 5 to 12, 2025, found support rose for corporate statements on all 12 topics measured. Five issues now receive majority backing, up from three in 2024.
Free speech (58%) and healthcare (55%) joined diversity (56%), mental health (57%), and climate change (58%) on the majority-supported list.
A separate HarrisX-Ragan survey of 400 U.S. executives released in November found 58% of CEOs say their organizations speak out too often on social or political issues. That view stands in contrast with 59% of communications leaders who believe their companies should speak up more. The survey was conducted between August and October 2025.
"The communications industry is at an inflection point. CEOs are tightening control over messaging amid growing polarization and online backlash."
Page Society members have observed that more companies are choosing not to speak out, even on issues directly impacting their business. Some CCOs acknowledged that fear of presidential-level pushback now looms larger than before. That fear has created a shift from sweeping declarations to localized action.
Communications teams must navigate complex stakeholder expectations
"If organizations are taking stances, they are seeking to do so through industry associations and advocacy groups," according to Page Society meeting notes from September.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has provided resources and spoken out against tariffs on behalf of member companies. Several CCOs noted that trade associations represent varied members and may take too long to build consensus on complex issues.
An Axios/Ipsos/CLYDE survey from June found 48% of Americans believe it is inappropriate for companies to comment publicly on political or social issues. The survey of 1,024 adults showed 65% of Republicans feel corporate commentary is inappropriate, compared to 30% of Democrats. Half of independents share that view.
At the same time, 58% of respondents agreed that companies have a responsibility to speak out on issues that may impact their employees. The specific issue matters to 55% of Americans when determining appropriateness.
The Pew Research Center surveyed 5,097 U.S. adults in February and found half consider company statements on political or social issues important. White adults are less likely than other racial or ethnic groups to say such statements matter.
Edelman's 2025 Brand Trust report found 64% of respondents buy, choose, or avoid brands based on their beliefs about societal issues. Half assume the worst if brands are silent.
Communications teams face regulatory changes alongside shifting stakeholder sentiment. The European Accessibility Act became law in EU member states in June 2025. The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive affects reports published from 2025 onward.
AI tools are transforming how organizations monitor and respond to issues
AI tools are reshaping how issues are monitored and managed. The HarrisX-Ragan survey found many senior leaders now trust custom-trained AI agents for some tasks more than their communications experts. Companies are using AI-enabled threat detection to measure public sentiment during crises.
Echo Research's Advisory Board identified misinformation and disinformation as challenges demanding communications responses in 2025. Board members reported growing skepticism around ESG initiatives in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Paul Argenti, a professor of corporate communications at Dartmouth, emphasized at a recent Page Society conversation that internal alignment must precede any decision to speak out on societal issues. Seasoned communications executives Bill Margaritis and Becky Edwards echoed that view.
The Institute for Public Relations released its annual research compilation in February, highlighting AI, workplace transformation, and best practices for speaking out as key topics for communications professionals. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1956 and has published more than 500 studies.