Backlash against ‘woke’ companies: Brits say firms should NOT be able to force staff to declare pronouns or sack workers for airing controversial views on social media

• Poll found 58% of Brits are against workers being forced to state their pronouns  

Firms pursuing ‘woke’ policies are risking the wrath of Brits, according to stark research today. 

A poll showed 58 per cent believe companies should not be able to force employees to declare their gender pronouns.

A majority also opposed workers being sacked for controversial – but legal – views expressed on social media. 

The findings of the study, carried out by People Polling for Policy Exchange, indicate there is widespread opposition to companies taking divisive political positions – and scepticism about why they do.

Just 10 per cent of think firms adopt a stance because they believe it, while 23 per cent said it was because businesses wanted free publicity.

A fifth suggested they wanted to distract from bad behaviour, such as not paying taxes.

A poll showed 58 per cent believe companies should not be able to force employees to declare their gender pronouns

Just over half of respondents – 52 per cent – oppose companies firing employees for sharing controversial but legal beliefs on social media outside of working hours. Just 12 per cent said it should be a sacking offence.

Only one in five voters think companies should be able to refuse to do business with customers due to their beliefs. Half disagree.

Most people – 54 per cent – said workers should not be discriminated against because of political beliefs they express at work. Just 18 per cent disagree.

Some 58 per cent were against companies being able to demand workers declare their gender pronouns.

There were 45 per cent who disagreed ‘completely’ and another 13 per cent ‘somewhat’. 

That included a clear majority of both Conservative and Labour voters. 

Just 16 per cent agreed that companies should be able to make employees state their pronouns. 

Policy Exchange is about to launch a project exploring ‘woke capitalism’.

Professor Matthew Goodwin said: ”What this comprehensive polling shows is that large numbers of people are instinctively opposed to corporations getting involved in the culture wars. 

‘They don’t think companies should be discriminating against workers because they might hold or express particular beliefs, they don’t think companies should refuse to do business with people who hold particular views and they don’t want their employer to be demanding they align themselves with particular political belief systems, such as gender identity theory.’

:: People Polling surveyed 1,169 Brits this month. The results were weighted to represent the wider population.

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