In 2019, CEDA released the results of Company Pulse, a nationwide poll undertaken to better understand community expectations of business; and the challenges facing business leaders.
Download: NSW Company Pulse state results
Download: Company Pulse national results
CEDA has released the NSW specific results of CEDA’s nationwide poll of more than 3000 people. Company Pulse examines community expectations of business and their views on the most important priorities for business.
The New South Wales community were more likely to place a lower priority than the national average on large companies reducing their direct impact on the environment and providing a good work/life balance.
The NSW public are also less likely to suggest that employees are the most important stakeholder for large companies (33 per cent vs 38 per cent nationally) and they are more likely to identify shareholders as the most important stakeholder for large companies compared to the national results (13 per cent vs nine per cent nationally).
The NSW public are also less likely to believe that companies should pass on their savings to employees through higher wages (34 per cent vs 38 per cent nationally).
On balancing economic performance against social and environmental outcomes, 67 per cent of the NSW public agree that large companies should be equally concerned about their economic performance and their social and environmental performance, lower than the national result of 72 per cent.
Company Pulse: nationwide survey
CEDA’s inaugural
Company Pulse is a nationwide survey of the general public and business leaders that includes more than 3000 people.
Overall, the results show the community expects a broad contribution from business including on social and environmental issues. While our survey highlights many issues that the community and business leaders are aligned on – perhaps more so than might be expected – it also identifies areas of disconnect.
Business and the general public agree that expectations of business have risen. However, scepticism remains around whether the behaviour of business has improved, and whether business leaders are seeking to advance national interests or their own company’s when they speak out on important issues.
- Seventy-two per cent of people believe business should place equal importance on economic, environmental and social performance;
- More than 70 per cent of the general public agreed that large companies should place equal importance on economic, environmental and social performance;
- More than three-quarters of survey respondents supported business leaders speaking out on issues of national importance, including social and environmental issues;
- More women than men rank environmental and social issues as higher priorities for business;
- Millennials ranked environment, ethical supply chains and work/life balance for employees as issues of importance while baby boomers ranked quality products and paying small businesses promptly as issues of importance.
Download: NSW Company Pulse state results
Download: Company Pulse national results
Other recent CEDA research