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Should organisations talk about and be involved in politics and social agendas? My opinion is that they shouldn't! They should focus on their business and employees.
Why?
They Can’t Walk the Talk
Companies love jumping on social issues, but rarely do they follow through in any way that isn’t blatantly inconsistent. Take BMW, for example—they’re all about the rainbow logo for Pride Month in the West but go radio-silent in the Middle East. It’s this selective activism that doesn’t actually stand for anything, and people notice. Plus, the second these stances start affecting profits, they do a complete 180. If they’re going to backtrack when it gets inconvenient, maybe they shouldn’t go there in the first place.
Interestingly, some companies are starting to pull back from the DEI agenda. Robby Starbuck has been vocal about this shift, saying he has over 5,000 whistleblowers and intel on hundreds of companies that show they’re mostly just talking the talk—sometimes without even intending to walk it. It’s clear that for many, these stances are more about optics than real commitment. He is prepared to release this information and I am sure it will make a juicy reading!
People Have Their Own Beliefs
Workplaces are filled with people from all kinds of backgrounds with their own perspectives and beliefs and we must respect that. When companies push a certain agenda, they’re basically saying, “You work here, so you need to think and feel like us, stand for the things we stand for, and say the things we want you to say.” That’s a huge overstep. No organisation has the right to force employees to support something they don’t believe in or to punish them if they don’t fall in line. That’s not unity or culture; that’s control and it certainly contradicts their diversity agenda! Pushing narratives where you have a diverse group of people will only create division, hostility, or rejection.
The Law Already Has It Covered
Most of these corporate stances are redundant because laws already exist to regulate important issues—discrimination, equal rights, and environmental protection. We don’t need corporations to be the moral compass here. If something needs fixing, the legal system should step up, not the company’s PR team. So, honestly, they’re just stirring the pot and keeping themselves busy for no reason.
These Agendas Are Irrelevant
Let’s get real: social and political agendas are just irrelevant in a work context. Most people come to work to do their jobs, get paid, and (hopefully) feel like they’re doing something meaningful within the company. When an organization starts pushing social or political causes, it’s not only distracting but downright awkward in a setting where people are just trying to work. It doesn’t make anyone’s job easier, and it doesn’t help the bottom line.
The fact is, people don’t need corporate messaging on how they should think or feel about the world—they’re there to do a job. If anything, these agendas actually make things more tense because now everyone’s wondering, “Am I saying the ‘right’ thing? Will my opinion hurt my standing here?” It’s exhausting and has nothing to do with their actual roles. Workplaces should be spaces where people collaborate, innovate, and get things done, not battlegrounds for ideological debates or “Who is offending who?”.
Your Customers Don’t Want It
Some of these agendas are flat-out ridiculous, and the backlash is real. Just look at Harley-Davidson right now—customers are demanding the CEO be replaced but the company - so far - is adamant. Let’s see for how long are they willing to hurt their bottom line and ignore their customers. Companies say they “value customer feedback,” but as soon as the feedback isn’t positive, suddenly it’s “divisive.”
Fix Your Own Problems First
While companies are out there playing activists and focusing on issues that have nothing to do with actual work—often creating division and even hurting their bottom line—employees are facing real problems like burnout, unrealistic targets, and layoffs. Meanwhile, leadership is busy talking about DEI, CSR, and community outreach. How about prioritizing making life better for your employees instead? How about f
ocusing on product development and finances so they don’t need to lay off people?
Focus on your company and your people and stay away from everything else! Companies need to stop pretending they’re activist groups and start taking care of their people and their business. Leave the politics to the politicians and just do what you’re supposed to do: run a great business.
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