A Fortune survey shows a 50/50 split.
Good morning.
Should CEOs speak out about controversial social and political issues? Some interesting data on that from our annual survey of Fortune 500 CEOs, out fresh this morning. We asked the CEOs which of the following statements comes closest to their own view, even if neither is exactly right:
—CEOs have a responsibility to speak out on important social and political issues and should continue to do so.
—CEOs have recently gotten too involved in commenting on social and political issues and need to pull back.
Their answer? Split right down the middle: 50% said keep it up; 50% said pull back. The mixed response demonstrates the awkward dilemma that the U.S. debate over voting practices has created for corporate chieftains. More than 80% agree that “everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote.” But countering that belief is a strong desire to stay out of the partisan crossfire (and perhaps not be called “woke” by the editors of the Wall Street Journal.)
Worth noting, that only 12% of the CEOs responding said they considered themselves Democrats. Thirty percent consider themselves Republicans, and 47% are Independent. When asked how they viewed Joe Biden’s performance as President, 61% responded favorably; 39% unfavorably.
A few other findings:
—53% of the CEOs say their revenues for this year are looking “significantly stronger” than they expected before the pandemic, and 51% said the same for profits.
—73% of CEOs said they will need less office space in the future than they had in 2019.
—36% said their company has published a climate plan to achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050 or sooner; another 44% said they are “considering” such a plan.
—53% said the “optimal” mix of remote and in-office work for knowledge employees going forward is “two or three days a week in the office; two or three days a week remote.” Only 3% favor four or more days a week remote.
—Only 10% are planning to require vaccinations for those returning to the office. 59% won’t require vaccinations; 31% haven’t decided.
More news below. And today’s must-read is Jeremy Kahn’s fascinating story about EasyJet, the upstart airline that was soaring before the pandemic, and is now trying to pull out of a tailspin.
Alan Murray
@alansmurray
alan.murray@fortune.com
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This edition of CEO Daily was edited by David Meyer.
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