Companies with Bad Reps Shunned Even by Unemployed Workers

Corporate Responsibility Magazine  and AllegisTalent2 announced the results of their first corporate reputation survey revealing that 75 percent of Americans would avoid applying to companies with poor corporate images, even the unemployed.

“The results of the new survey underscore American’s desire to align themselves with organizations that do more for society than increase their bottom-line. Even during a time when Americans face many fiscal challenges, most people would rather continue their search for employment than work for a company that has questionable business practices or ethics. The survey results demonstrate that there is a cost of bad business behavior, which significantly affects the ability to attract and retain people.” said Elliot Clark, CEO of Corporate Responsibility Magazine.

However, of those respondents who were employed, 58 percent said that they would switch to a company with a bad employer reputation if they were offered a higher salary, but only if salary offered were, on average, twice their current income. Additionally, 87 percent of all respondents would think about leaving their current job for a position at another company with a sterling reputation, with only a 1 to 10 percent salary increase as incentive to move.

“A positive corporate reputation is extremely high on the list of must-haves for the American workforce, especially as they examine career paths or future employment opportunities,” said Randolph Gulian, executive vice president/general manager, AllegisTalent2. “Today’s chief executives at companies across the globe, regardless of size, continue to put more energy and resources behind the improvement of their corporate responsibility and sustainability programs. More than ever, they understand that these efforts trickle down to sales, save money and improve asset values.”