Higher Expectations: How Organizations Engage with Social Change Issues
Our Privacy Policy has been updated! The Conference Board uses cookies to improve our website, enhance your experience, and deliver relevant messages and offers about our products. Detailed information on the use of cookies on this site is provided in our cookie policy. For more information on how The Conference Board collects and uses personal data, please visit our privacy policy. By continuing to use this Site or by clicking "OK", you acknowledge our privacy policy and consent to the use of cookies.  Our Privacy Policy has been updated! Detailed information on the use of cookies on this site is provided in our cookie policy and our privacy policy. 
TCB Tourch
Loading...
  • logoImage
  •  
    • US
    • EUROPE
    • ASIA
  • 2

    Close
    • Insights
        • Insights
        • Explore by Center
          • Explore by Center
          • CED
            Committee for Economic Development

          • Economy, Strategy & Finance

          • Governance & Sustainability

          • Human Capital

          • Marketing & Communications

        • Explore by Content Type
          • Explore by Content Type
          • Reports

          • Upcoming Webcasts

          • On Demand Webcasts

          • Podcasts

          • Charts & Infographics

        • Trending Topics
          • Trending Topics
          • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

          • Navigating Washington

          • Geopolitics

          • US Economic Forecast

          • Sustainability

          • Future of Work

    • Events
        • Events
        • Upcoming Events
          • Upcoming Events
          • People First: Opportunity and Access

          • CHRO Summit: Navigating through a Tsunami of Change

          • Future: People Asia

          • Executive Compensation in a Disruptive World

          • CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

          • The 2025 IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

          • Explore all Upcoming Events

        • Member-Exclusive Programs
          • Member-Exclusive Programs
          • Center Briefings

          • Experts Live

          • Roundtables

          • Working Groups

          • Expert Briefings

    • Data
        • Data
        • Consumer Confidence Index

        • Data Central

        • TCB Benchmarking

        • Employment Trends Index

        • Global Economic Outlook

        • Leading Economic Indicators

        • Help Wanted OnLine

        • Labor Markets

        • Measure of CEO Confidence

        • Human Capital Benchmarking &
          Data Analytics

        • CMO+CCO Meter Dashboard

    • Centers
        • Centers
        • Our Centers
          • Our Centers
          • Committee for Economic Development

          • Economy, Strategy & Finance

          • Governance & Sustainability

          • Human Capital

          • Marketing & Communications

        • Center Membership
          • Center Membership
          • What Is a Center?

          • Benefits of Center Membership

          • Join a Center

    • Councils
        • Councils
        • Find a Council
          • Find a Council
          • Economy, Strategy & Finance

          • Governance & Sustainability

          • Human Capital

          • Marketing & Communications

        • Council Membership
          • Council Membership
          • What is a Council?

          • Benefits of Council Membership

          • Apply to a Council

    • Membership
        • Membership
        • Why Become a Member?
          • Why Become a Member?
          • Benefits of Membership

          • Check if Your Organization is a Member

          • Speak to a Membership Associate

        • Types of Membership
          • Types of Membership
          • Council

          • Committee for Economic Development

          • Economy, Strategy & Finance

          • Governance & Sustainability

          • Human Capital

          • Marketing & Communications

          • Insights

        • Already a Member?
          • Already a Member?
          • Sign In to myTCB®

          • Executive Communities

          • Member-Exclusive Programs

    • About Us
        • About Us
        • Who We Are
          • Who We Are
          • About Us

          • In the News

          • Press Releases

          • Our History

          • Support Our Work

          • Locations

          • Contact Us

        • Our Community
          • Our Community
          • Our Leadership

          • Our Experts

          • Trustees

          • Voting Members

          • Global Counsellors

          • Careers

          • This Week @ TCB

    • Careers
    • This Week @ TCB
    • Sign In to myTCB®
      • US
      • EUROPE
      • ASIA
    • Insights
      • Insights
      • Explore by Center
        • Explore by Center
        • CED
          Committee for Economic Development

        • Economy, Strategy & Finance

        • Governance & Sustainability

        • Human Capital

        • Marketing & Communications

      • Explore by Content Type
        • Explore by Content Type
        • Reports

        • Upcoming Webcasts

        • On Demand Webcasts

        • Podcasts

        • Charts & Infographics

      • Trending Topics
        • Trending Topics
        • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

        • Navigating Washington

        • Geopolitics

        • US Economic Forecast

        • Sustainability

        • Future of Work

    • Events
      • Events
      • Upcoming Events
        • Upcoming Events
        • People First: Opportunity and Access

        • CHRO Summit: Navigating through a Tsunami of Change

        • Future: People Asia

        • Executive Compensation in a Disruptive World

        • CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

        • The 2025 IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

        • Explore all Upcoming Events

      • Member-Exclusive Programs
        • Member-Exclusive Programs
        • Center Briefings

        • Experts Live

        • Roundtables

        • Working Groups

        • Expert Briefings

    • Data
      • Data
      • Consumer Confidence Index

      • Data Central

      • TCB Benchmarking

      • Employment Trends Index

      • Global Economic Outlook

      • Leading Economic Indicators

      • Help Wanted OnLine

      • Labor Markets

      • Measure of CEO Confidence

      • Human Capital Benchmarking & Data Analytics

      • CMO+CCO Meter Dashboard

    • Centers
      • Centers
      • Our Centers
        • Our Centers
        • Committee for Economic Development

        • Economy, Strategy & Finance

        • Governance & Sustainability

        • Human Capital

        • Marketing & Communications

      • Center Membership
        • Center Membership
        • What is a Center?

        • Benefits of Center Membership

        • Join a Center

    • Councils
      • Councils
      • Find a Council
        • Find a Council
        • Economy, Strategy & Finance

        • Governance & Sustainability

        • Human Capital

        • Marketing & Communications

      • Council Membership
        • Council Membership
        • What is a Council?

        • Benefits of Council Membership

        • Apply to a Council

    • Membership
      • Membership
      • Why Become a Member?
        • Why Become a Member?
        • Benefits of Membership

        • Check if Your Organization is a Member

        • Speak to a Membership Associate

      • Types of Membership
        • Types of Membership
        • Council

        • Committee for Economic Development

        • Economy, Strategy & Finance

        • Governance & Sustainability

        • Human Capital

        • Marketing & Communications

        • Insights

      • Already a Member?
        • Already a Member?
        • Sign In to myTCB®

        • Executive Communities

        • Member-Exclusive Programs

    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Who We Are
        • Who We Are
        • About Us

        • In the News

        • Press Releases

        • This Week @ TCB

        • Our History

        • Support Our Work

        • Locations

        • Contact Us

      • Our Community
        • Our Community
        • Our Leadership

        • Our Experts

        • Trustees

        • Voting Members

        • Global Counsellors

        • Careers

        • This Week @ TCB

    • Careers
    • Sign In to myTCB®
    • Download TCB Insights App
  • Insights
    Insights

    Our research and analysis have helped the world's leading companies navigate challenges and seize opportunities for over 100 years.

    Explore All Research

    Economic Indicators

    • Explore by Center
    • CED
      Committee for Economic Development
    • Economy, Strategy & Finance
    • Governance & Sustainability
    • Human Capital
    • Marketing & Communications
    • Explore by Content Type
    • Reports
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • On Demand Webcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Charts & Infographics
    • Trending Topics
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Navigating Washington
    • Geopolitics
    • US Economic Forecast
    • Sustainability
    • Future of Work
  • Events
    Events

    Our in-person and virtual events offer unmatched opportunities for professional development, featuring top experts and practitioners.

    See Everything Happening This Week

    Sponsor a Program

    • Upcoming Events
    • People First: Opportunity and Access

      June 12 - 13, 2025

      CHRO Summit: Navigating through a Tsunami of Change

      June 24, 2025

      Future: People Asia

      September 04 - 05, 2025

    •  
    • Executive Compensation in a Disruptive World

      September 16 - 17, 2025

      CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

      October 08, 2025

      The 2025 IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

      October 16 - 17, 2025

    • Member-Exclusive Programs
    • Center Briefings
    • Experts Live
    • Roundtables
    • Working Groups
    • Expert Briefings
    • Explore by Type
    • Events
    • Webcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Member-Exclusive Programs
    • Center Briefings
    • Experts Live
    • Roundtables
    • Working Groups
    • Expert Briefings
  • Data
    Corporate Disclosure Data

    TCB Benchmarking

    Real-time data & analytical tools to benchmark your governance, compensation, environmental, human capital management (HCM) and social practices against US public companies.

    Economic Data

    All Data

    See current direction and trends across key indicators

    Consumer Confidence Index

    US consumers' thoughts on the economy, jobs, finances and more

    Data Central

    One-stop, member-exclusive portal for the entire suite of indicators

    Labor Markets

    Covering all aspects of labor markets, from monthly development to long-term trends

    Measure of CEO Confidence

    Examines the health of the US economy from the perspective of CEOs

     

    Recession & Growth Trackers

    See the current and future state of 16 economies.

    Global Economic Outlook

    Track the latest short-, medium-, and long-term growth outlooks for 77 economies

    Leading Economic Indicators

    Track the state of the business cycle for 12 global economies across Asia and Europe

    Help Wanted OnLine

    Track the status of job markets across the US through online job listings

    Other Featured Data

    Human Capital Analytics Tools

    Tools to understand human capital management and corporate performance

    CMO+CCO Meter Dashboard

    Tracks the impact, resources, and satisfaction of CMOs and CCOs

  • Centers
    Centers

    Centers offer access to world-class experts, research, events, and senior executive communities.

    Our Centers
    • Committee for Economic Development
    • Economy, Strategy & Finance
    • Governance & Sustainability
    • Human Capital
    • Marketing & Communications
    Center Membership
    • What Is a Center?
    • Benefits of Center Membership
    • Join a Center
  • Councils
    Councils

    Councils are invitation-only, peer-led communities of senior executives that come together to exchange knowledge, accelerate career development, and advance their function.

    Find a Council
    • Economy, Strategy & Finance
    • Governance & Sustainability
    • Human Capital
    • Marketing & Communications
    Council Membership
    • What Is a Council?
    • Benefits of Council Membership
    • Apply to a Council
  • Membership
    Membership

    Membership in The Conference Board arms your team with an arsenal of knowledge, networks, and expertise that's unmatched in scope and depth.

    • Why Become a Member?
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Check if Your Organization is a Member
    • Speak to a Membership Associate
    • Types of Membership
    • Council
    • Committee for Economic Development
    • Economy, Strategy & Finance
    • Governance & Sustainability
    • Human Capital
    • Marketing & Communications
    • Insights
    • Already a Member?
    • Sign in to myTCB®
    • Executive Communities
    • Member-Exclusive Programs
  • About Us
    About Us

    The Conference Board is the global, nonprofit think tank and business membership organization that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead®. For over 100 years, our cutting-edge research, data, events and executive networks have helped the world's leading companies understand the present and shape the future.

    Learn more about Membership

    • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • In the News
    • Press Releases
    • Our History
    • Support Our Work
    • Locations
    • Contact Us
    • Our Community
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Experts
    • Trustees
    • Voting Members
    • Careers
    • This Week @ TCB
Check if You're a Member
Create Account
Forgot Your Password?

Members of The Conference Board get exclusive access to the full range of products and services that deliver Trusted Insights for What's Ahead ® including webcasts, publications, data and analysis, plus discounts to conferences and events.

  • TAGS
  • COMMUNICATIONS
  • CULTURE, ENGAGEMENT & EXPERIENCE
  • OPPORTUNITY & ACCESS

Higher Expectations: How Organizations Engage with Social Change Issues

August 21, 2019 | Report

Copy Link
Share
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Copy Link Copy Link

Social change issues matter to organizations because they matter to many of their employees and customers, both of whom affect overall profitability. This report reveals the findings of an online survey with over 500 respondents across various industries, functions, and levels, and interviews with10 human resources (HR), sustainability, and diversity and inclusion (D&I) leaders at global organizations in different industries. It outlines how organizations are responding to social change and the choices they have when they decide to do so.

Executive Summary 

The public prominence of social change issues is influencing how many organizations operate. The challenge for organizations is to determine the costs and benefits, and thus the overall impact, of taking a stand on the social change issues that affect customers, employees, owners, and the communities in which they operate. Simply put, social change issues matter to organizations because they matter to many of their employees and customers, both of whom affect overall profitability.

To determine how organizations approach social change, we conducted an online survey with over 500 respondents across various industries, functions, and levels, and interviewed 10 human resources (HR), sustainability, and diversity and inclusion (D&I) leaders at global organizations in different industries. This report outlines how organizations are responding to social change and the choices they have when they decide to do so.

Survey responses indicate that most employees expect their organizations to engage with social change issues:

  • 90 percent reported it is at least moderately important that the organization they work for be involved in social change
  • 32 percent of survey respondents reported that organizations should always respond to social change issues

The leaders we interviewed told us that large organizations and brands have an ability, if not a responsibility, to create change that most individuals cannot match on their own. Our research revealed that many organizations and employees realize it is getting harder to avoid engaging with social change issues. And CEOs agree: In The Conference Board 2019 C-Suite Challenge™, half of surveyed CEOs believe future customers will factor a company’s values and corporate citizenship more prominently into purchasing decisions.1

Some organizations have decided to get ahead of issues, while others engage with social change issues as part of their core values, and still others are propelled into action by customers, employees, or the media. This report doesn’t address the full spectrum of social change issues, which includes politics, climate change, and many other issues. Instead, we focus on a subset of social change issues that, though still broad in scope, are related to employees and their inclusion and rights in the workplace.

At The Conference Board, we define social change for organizations as:

“The use of an organization’s leadership, brand, and resources to influence ways of thinking about cultural and social norms, internally and/or publicly, globally and/or within a region.”

Survey respondents were asked how organizations should respond to a cross-section of 15 timely social change issues that affect employees: publicly only, both publicly and internally, internally only, or not issuing a response at all.

HR’s Role When the Organization Engages with Social Change Issues

HR plays an important role when an organization engages with social change issues that affect employees. In many cases, HR will lead the response efforts internally, often alongside employee networks. For public responses, HR can partner with the organization’s senior leadership and marketing & communications, corporate social responsibility/sustainability, public policy, and legal functions to provide consistent messaging to employees. HR can put in place guidelines to help the organization respond quickly and appropriately. Guidelines should be specific to an individual organization. When creating such guidelines, HR should work to:

Understand the social change issues that affect employees.

  • Realize that it is an unreasonable expectation for people to come to work and check their views on social change issues at the door. You should be aware of what is going on externally to the organization, especially with issues that yield a lot of emotion. Keeping a pulse on current social change issues that affect employees is just as important as any other aspect of HR such as safety, ethics, and wellness.
  • Ensure that leaders and decision makers are aware of the larger societal conversations and how they affect many employees. Recognize that a critical mass of employees who are passionate about an issue may push leadership to respond.
  • Provide a forum to listen to employees to find out what they are most passionate about. Create opportunities for employees to channel feedback to the C-suite.

Partner with leadership to determine the internal response if the organization decides to pursue a specific social change issue.

  • Find leaders in senior roles who are passionate about the issues and are willing to champion them thoughtfully.
  • Consider how your organization measures the diversity and inclusion constructs that are often associated with social change issues (e.g., equity in terms of pay, opportunity, and training).
  • Determine when to be proactive or reactive by formulating the best approach for your organization based on facts and business results. Know your constituents and bring them in on the issue.

Engage with the social change issue.

  • If your organization is planning to release a public statement, ensure that internal communications are timely and consistent with the public response. Work with corporate communications and legal departments to develop a thoughtful response.
  • Allow employees time to process and ask questions, especially if you’ve chosen to respond publicly. Sit down with employees to discuss particularly sensitive issues. 

AUTHORS

RobinErickson, PhD

Robin Erickson, PhD

Head of Human Capital Research
The Conference Board

AmandaPopiela

Amanda Popiela

Former Researcher, Human Capital
The Conference Board

  • CREATE AN ACCOUNT SIGN IN
  • Download REPORT
    Only available to members. Become a member.

Copy Link
Share
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Copy Link Copy Link

OTHER RELATED CONTENT

RESEARCH & INSIGHTS

Short Cuts: Retail spending just dropped—Here’s what to do next

Short Cuts: Retail spending just dropped—Here’s what to do next

May 17, 2025 | Newsletters & Alerts

HC Insights: To attract talent, tailor retention and recruitment strategies

HC Insights: To attract talent, tailor retention and recruitment strategies

May 16, 2025 | Newsletters & Alerts

Navigating Change Fatigue in an Age of Disruption

Navigating Change Fatigue in an Age of Disruption

May 14, 2025 | Article

CCO Workload Shifts Overall Happiness Downward

CCO Workload Shifts Overall Happiness Downward

May 12, 2025 | Article

WEBCASTS

How to Navigate the Reimagined Workplace in 2025

How to Navigate the Reimagined Workplace in 2025

June 17, 2025

Change is Changing: How Organizations Can Master Change Management

Change is Changing: How Organizations Can Master Change Management

July 08, 2025

Focusing on Digital Well-Being in the Workplace

Focusing on Digital Well-Being in the Workplace

August 12, 2025

Reinventing the Employee Experience

Reinventing the Employee Experience

October 14, 2025

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

2026 Corporate Communications Event

2026 Corporate Communications Event

March 05 - 06, 2026 | (Brooklyn, NY)

The 2025 IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

The 2025 IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

October 16 - 17, 2025 | (Chicago, Illinois)

COUNCILS

Chief EH&S Officers Council

Chief EH&S Officers Council

Corporate Communications Strategy Council

Corporate Communications Strategy Council

Employee Engagement & Experience Council

Employee Engagement & Experience Council

Internal Communications Council

Internal Communications Council

PODCASTS

Why Change Management Is More Important Than Ever

April 28, 2025

Inclusion at a Crossroads: The Path Forward for Business

November 14, 2024

What Should Corporate Inclusion Look Like Going Forward?

October 28, 2024

Why Leaders Need to Prioritize Employee Well-Being

September 02, 2024

PRESS RELEASES & IN THE NEWS

Denise Dahlhoff on the changing role of the CMO

May 05, 2025

Report: CHROs Are Expanding Impact with Corporate Boards

April 17, 2025

Show Me the ROI: Only 18% of Companies Communicate Impact of Employer Branding

April 02, 2025

Opportunity & Access: An Unwavering Principle

February 10, 2025

Conference Board Sample Web Chat
chatbot-Icon TCB Logo
chatbot-Icon
Navigating Washington - Sign up to receive the latest business insights related to executive orders, new laws, and changing regulations.
ABOUT US
  • Who We Are
  • Annual Report
  • Our History
  • Our Experts
  • Our Leadership
  • In the News
  • Press Releases
MEMBERSHIP
  • Become a Member
  • Sign In to myTCB®
  • Access Experts
  • Member-Only Events
  • Data & Benchmarking
  • Manage Account
EXPLORE
  • Centers
  • Councils
  • Latest Research
  • Events
  • Webcasts
  • Podcasts
  • This Week @ TCB
CONTACT US
  • Americas
    +1 212 759 0900
    customer.service@tcb.org
  • Europe/Africa/Middle East
    +32 2 675 5405
    brussels@tcb.org
  • Asia
    Hong Kong | +852 2804 1000
    Singapore | +65 8298 3403
    service.ap@tcb.org
CAREERS
  • See Open Positions
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Event Code of Conduct | Trademarks
© 2025 The Conference Board Inc. All rights reserved. The Conference Board and torch logo are registered trademarks of The Conference Board.
The use of all The Conference Board data and materials is subject to the Terms of Use. Reprint requests are reviewed individually and may be subject to additional fees.The Conference Board reserves the right to deny any request.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Event Code of Conduct | Trademarks
© 2025 The Conference Board Inc. All rights reserved. The Conference Board and torch logo are registered trademarks of The Conference Board.
The use of all data from The Conference Board data and materials is subject to the Terms of Use. Reprint requests are reviewed individually and may be subject to additional fees.The Conference Board reserves the right to deny any request.

Thank you for signing up. You will now receive CEO Insights for What's Ahead every Wednesday morning. You can unsubscribe at any time or manage your preferences to receive more content from The Conference Board.

Announcing The Conference Board AI Virtual Conference Series

Explore the Impact of AI on Your Business

Members receive complimentary registration - Learn more >>