New Qualtrics research shows that while people want to hear from their employers on workplace issues, they most crave alignment on values

Values, especially well-being, honesty, and respect, are more important to workers even than higher pay, according to new research from Qualtrics (Nasdaq: XM). More than half of US employees (54%) would be willing to take a pay cut to work at a company with better values, and even more – 56% – wouldn’t even consider a job at a company that has values they disagree with.

While shared values are a top priority, workers are split on whether they want companies and company leaders to speak out more on social, environmental and political issues. And the most contentious of American issues, including reproductive and constitutional rights, are at the bottom of the list of topics workers want to see their leaders addressing.

The findings offer a guideline for company leaders wondering about the right level of internal and external commentary when faced with divisive public policy debates. As societal divisions widen in the US, employees rely more than ever on their companies for guidance and community. The Qualtrics research showed that people feel their employer is more responsible than their family, community, or government for their health and safety. The 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer reported that people trust their CEO and co-workers more than politicians, journalists, or even their neighbors¹.

Employees want their company executives to speak out about societal and environmental issues – only 15% think their company should do so less. But there is some nuance when it comes to what they want to hear from their employers about. When asked to select their top three choices from a list of topics, 44% of workers said employers should prioritize weighing in on employee well-being, 35% wanted to hear more about wages, and 33% would like their employers to speak out about worker rights and safety.

A far smaller share wanted their employers to speak out about reproductive issues (3.3%), constitutional rights (4.8%) or politics (2.8%).

“When it comes to divisive policy issues and debates, a shared set of meaningful values can be a good place to find some common ground,” said Qualtrics Chief People Officer Julia Anas. “Every leader, employee and workplace is different, but if we can all rally around the basics – integrity, respect, safety and wellness – it’s going to enhance the employee experience and strengthen the organizational culture, even when we don’t agree about every issue.”

The risks of speaking out may be lower than employers believe, according to the research. The most likely consequence of a disagreement is an internal discussion. In a case where they deeply disagreed with a company’s position on a social, environmental or political issue, 33% of employees said they would consider writing a private message to the executive or their manager, while 25% said they would discuss it with co-workers. Only 11% would consider posting about it publicly on social media, and 6% would consider taking it to the press.

Methodology

This study was fielded between April 7 and April 21, 2022. Respondents were selected from a randomized panel and considered eligible if they live in the United States, are at least 18 years of age and are employed full-time or part-time. The total number of respondents was 1,178. Respondents who did not pass quality standards were removed.

About Qualtrics

Qualtrics, the leader and creator of the Experience Management (XM) category, is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core experiences of business—customer, employee, product and brand. Over 16,750 organizations around the world use Qualtrics to listen, understand and take action on experience data (X-data™)—the beliefs, emotions and intentions that tell you why things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM Platform™ is a system of action that helps businesses attract customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love and build a brand people are passionate about. To learn more, please visit qualtrics.com.

¹ 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, slide 14 https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2022-01/2022%20Edelman%20Trust%20Barometer%20FINAL_Jan25.pdf

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When it comes to divisive policy issues and debates, a shared set of meaningful values can be a good place to find some common ground.