Most Employees Want to Work for a Company that Values Diversity

If as a business owner you’ve found yourself wondering whether to voice your opinion on social issues or simply stick to your job, a recent survey revealed conflicting results.

The new poll conducted by CNBC found that nearly 80% of workers want to work for a company that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. More than half (60%) of the surveyed workers said they approve of business leaders speaking out on social and political issues. However, only 36% want the leaders of the company they work for to speak out.

The poll collected the views of 8,233 employed adults across the U.S. from April 8-18 through SurveyMonkey. It also found that women (86%) are more likely than men (72%) to want to work at an organization that prioritizes diversity. Among specific workers, Asians (88%), Blacks (87%), and Hispanics (85%) are more likely than whites (75%) to consider it important that their workplace prioritizes diversity. Workers at the individual contributor level (82%) are more likely to value working at a place that values inclusion than those in the C-level, at the highest levels of the career ladder (61%).

Most surveyed workers (55%) say their company is doing enough to address issues of diversity and inclusion, while 24% say their company is not doing enough, and 17% say their company is going too far to address this issue.

Workers who say their company is “not doing enough” to prioritize diversity and inclusion have a Workforce Happiness Index score of 63, well below the average score of 72.

“Workers who are satisfied with their company’s efforts on diversity and inclusion issues are actually happier with their jobs,” said Laura Wronski, a research science manager at SurveyMonkey. “They are more likely than others to say that they have good opportunities to advance their careers, and they are more likely to feel like they are paid well for the work they do.”