商业与社会报告（英）

Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report

Key Findings

Americans Believe Businesses Have a Positive Impact on Their Lives—But Can Do More

• Positive Impact: 63% of Americans say businesses have an extremely or somewhat positive impact on people's lives, up 8 percentage points from 2022.
• Room for Improvement: 88% of U.S. adults believe businesses have "great deal" or "some" power to positively impact people's lives.
• Small Businesses: Americans are twice as likely to say small businesses have a positive effect on people's lives (85%) compared to large businesses (42%).
• Public Stance: Less than half (41%) of Americans say businesses should take a public stance on current events. Support varies by topic:
  • Climate change: 55%
  • Mental health: 52%
  • Religion: 15%
  • Political candidates: 19%
  • Abortion: 26%

Americans Think Businesses Are Falling Short in Important Areas

• Environmental Impact: 50% of Americans think businesses negatively impact the environment.
• Pay Gap: 82% of Americans believe avoiding a major pay gap between CEO and average employee salaries is important, but only 13% say businesses are doing an excellent or good job.
• Ethical Practices: Over 80% of Americans believe businesses should make money ethically and compensate all workers fairly, but less than one-third think businesses are effectively doing both.
• Transparency in Healthcare: 95% of Americans say healthcare companies should be required to disclose costs before receiving services, but only 17% know the actual costs.

Americans Are Wary of Artificial Intelligence Use in Business

• Trust in AI: 79% of Americans trust businesses "not much" or "not at all" to use AI responsibly, and 40% say AI does more harm than good.
• Job Market Concerns: 75% believe AI will reduce the number of jobs in the U.S. over the next 10 years, especially among those with less than a bachelor's degree and those aged 45 or older.
• Perceived Capabilities:
  • Better at customization: 68%
  • Recommending products/services: 65%
  • Assisting students: 60%
  • Worse at:
    • Providing medical advice: 62%
    • Driving cars: 68%
    • Recommending employees: 69%

Americans Seek Employers That Have a Positive Impact on Their Employees—and the World

• Job Mobility: 55% of Americans would move jobs to work at an organization that makes a greater positive impact on society, with 29% willing to take a 10% pay cut.
• Younger Workers: 71% of workers aged 18 to 29 would leave their job for a more impactful employer, with 29% willing to take a 10% pay cut.
• Work Conditions: Over 70% believe offering a four-day, 40-hour workweek, limiting after-hours work, and providing mental health days would increase employee wellbeing.
• Flexible Work: 87% of Americans consider flexible work arrangements extremely or somewhat important, and 68% find free mental health support services important.

Introduction

There is perhaps no institution more powerful in America today than business. Whether a multinational conglomerate or a mom-and-pop shop, businesses of all types form the bedrock of society by creating jobs, generating wealth, and offering innovative goods and services. They are engines of growth and innovation, and their impact extends far beyond the bottom line. This report, a collaborative effort between Bentley University and Gallup, aims to explore how Americans perceive the role of businesses in society and identify areas where businesses can improve.