The Partisan DEI-vide

Recent corporate decisions to scale back DEI initiatives have sparked intense debate among Americans, revealing significant partisan divides. FGS Global’s Insights team canvassed our community of news-attentive Americans—TrendSpotters—for their perspectives on the issue. 

Here are the key findings:

• Coverage of major brands scaling back DEI commitments has broken through. 64% of respondents are aware of changes to DEI initiatives, with awareness consistent across party lines.

• Starkly divided views of DEI in the workplace underscore the difficulty consumer-facing companies have in satisfying a bipartisan majority. 80% of Republicans support scaling back DEI efforts, viewing it as a brave move, while 59% of Democrats see it as evidence of disingenuous commitments. 

• Both Democrats and Republicans support their opinions on DEI with uncorroborated assumptions about business impacts – indicating more robust business metrics might help foster common ground in companies’ communications on this issue. Republicans argue DEI programs are divisive and harmful to profitability, raising concerns about “reverse racism” in hiring. In contrast, Democrats believe diverse workplaces enhance company success and fairness.

• Activist Polarization: Robby Starbuck, known for opposing “woke” agendas, remains a divisive figure. Younger participants are more familiar with him, and views on his activism vary significantly by party.

• Demonstrating integrity and consistency in their stated values is the best way for companies to earn a degree of reputational credit when talking about DEI issues. Both parties agree that companies should consistently stand by their principles and avoid yielding to pressures just so consumers will support their brand.

For more information, please reach out to insights@fgsglobal.com.

Hispanic Heritage Month— celebrated from September 15 through October 15— presents a great opportunity to connect with the Latino community and strengthen relationships with employees, customers and other important stakeholders. Below is a guide to help your organization approach this initiative with intention and a commitment to ongoing dialogue beyond October.

Engaging in Hispanic Heritage Month activities and events requires foresight, intention and preparation. Below are three considerations for best practices of allyship and guidelines for how to engage Hispanic communities this month and throughout the year:

• Active listening: Engage with Hispanic employees to understand their initiatives and perspectives, avoiding assumptions and stereotypes.

• Leverage core values: Showcase your organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, transparently addressing both strengths and areas for improvement.

• Authenticity and responsibility: Build trust through genuine engagement and have a plan to address any missteps, reinforcing accountability.

Before you engage, it is crucial to understand the diversity of terminology:

• While “Hispanic” and “Latino” are commonly used, newer terms like “Latinx” and “Latine” are gaining traction. 

• Only a small percentage of Latinos identify with “Latinx,” highlighting the need for sensitivity in language. Context and intent are key to successful outreach and engagement. 

If you have any questions, need further clarification, or would like to discuss how we could assist during Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond, FGS Prospero can help you effectively communicate and influence Hispanic audiences. To learn more, please contact FGS-Prospero@fgsglobal.com.

Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris on September 10 sparked a remarkable surge in civic engagement, with 35,000 adults registering to vote within just 24 hours. This has ignited discussions across the political spectrum, particularly in key battleground states. FGS Global’s insights team offers the following perspectives from the battleground community.

Democrats are glad she has spoken out and hope she will encourage her fans to engage.

• “It’s just nice to see somebody of a younger generation considering their future and what it means to Americans to have a strong and steady leadership.” – Wisconsin Democrat 

• “This will make a big difference for younger voters, especially first-time voters and women.” – Georgia Democrat 

• “I think that she could encourage people to vote in general, but I don't think that anybody is switching from Trump to Harris specifically because Taylor Swift says to.” – Wisconsin Democrat

Republicans and Independents question why celebrities are involving themselves in the election.

• “Taylor Swift is nothing but a puppet for liberal clowns trying to push their agenda.” – Michigan Republican 

• “What does Taylor Swift know about the country or effective leadership? If people base their votes on what some celebrity thinks, then we are really in trouble as a nation.” – Wisconsin Independent 

• “Taylor Swift's endorsement has absolutely no bearing on my decision. I do not follow celebrities and could care less about what they think.” – Georgia Independent

For more information, contact publicopinion@fgsglobal.com.