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: Queensland Company Pulse state results
Download: Company Pulse national results
CEDA has released the Queensland 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 results include community views on ethical business behaviour, business leaders speaking on social and environmental issues and intergenerational differences regarding business priorities.
Queenslanders were more likely to prioritise businesses minimising the impacts of workforce reductions than other states and are slightly less likely to suggest that large companies should do as much as they can to improve the whole country’s social performance (40 per cent vs 43 per cent nationally) and the whole country’s environmental performance (43 per cent vs 47 per cent nationally).
Queenslanders are more likely to believe that unethical or dishonest conduct by large companies will result in government regulation or restrictions (56 per cent vs 53 per cent nationally) and in line with the national results, more than three-quarters of Queenslanders accepted business leaders speaking out on issues of national importance, including social and environmental issues and are also more likely to agree that when large companies reduce their costs they should pass the savings onto employees through higher wages (41 per cent vs 38 per cent nationally).
The general public and business leaders were in alignment sharing scepticism around the consequences of unethical conduct, with only 30 per cent of the general public, including 30 per cent of Queenslanders, and 42 per cent of business leaders believe the government takes strong action against unethical behaviour.
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: Queensland Company Pulse state results
Download: Company Pulse national results
Other recent CEDA research