Ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections, in every district and at every level, the campaigns are proving to be contentious and charged. It’s a challenging landscape for companies to navigate, especially as fundamental issues their stakeholders care about dominate the political, media and social discourse.

To help businesses understand the risks related to the U.S. elections, The Weber Shandwick Collective — including Weber Shandwick, Powell Tate, United Minds and KRC Research — surveyed American consumers and employees on the role of business in national elections. The findings contextualize the shifting landscape of public opinion at the intersection of business and politics, especially amid fears of a tumultuous 2024 election.

Key findings from the July 2024 report reveal:

Concerns around the state of democracy drive heightened expectations for business.

  • Most Americans across political parties say they fear this election will undermine American democracy and the rule of law (59%). An identical percentage believe this election is a sharp fork in the road between democracy and authoritarianism.

Across political parties and ideological lines, many say that business can and should serve as a stabilizing force.

  • Over two-thirds of both consumers and employees (69%) agree that American businesses must take a stand to protect democracy. More than three-quarters (78% consumers, 77% employees) agree businesses should encourage a free and fair election, and a peaceful transfer of power.

American consumers and employees continue to expect businesses to be politically neutral.

  • As in the March 2024 Pulse on America poll, an overwhelming majority of American consumers and employees expect neutrality from business this election cycle, with three-quarters (75% consumers, 74% employees) saying business should keep the workplace politically neutral.

Read the full report here and below.

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