How to stay afloat in the age of employee activism
As workers increasingly are urged to be brand ambassadors, the company-endowed megaphone can start blaring adverse messages against leaders. Here’s how to mitigate any damage.
Employee activism has been rising for some time now.
At this point, there is no excuse for companies to be caught unaware. Every organization should undertake steps to quell an embarrassing employee demonstration of opposition to a company policy, decision or action.
For years, companies have asked their employees to advocate on their behalf.
Workers accustomed to speaking out on the company’s behalf, though, are less likely to have qualms about taking issue with the organization than those who have never raised their voice at all.
A Weber Shandwick survey, “Employee Activism in the Age of Purpose: Employees Up(rising),” found nearly 40% of employees are activists, speaking up either in support of or opposition to the company, and another 11% are potential activists.
What’s more, 84% of employees believe it’s appropriate for workers to speak up for their employers, but 74% believe employees are right to speak up against them. According to the report, “The belief that employees have a right to speak up in support of their employers is consistent across generations.”
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