Why business leaders should prepare for grievance politics in the workplace

"Discontent has surged across U.S. society, largely defined the last three presidential elections, and now appears set to challenge business owners in the workplace. The rising sense of grievance expressed across all demographic groups has reached new highs, according to a new survey, with both companies and their CEOs suffering some of the biggest drops in trust among respondents. The rising tide of acrimony and accusation recorded in the 25 th Annual Edelman Trust Barometer"

"Whether it was Democrats warning of a "fascist" threat to democracy or Republicans complaining about " woke" reverse discrimination, the expression of victimized resentment has grown ever louder within American discourse in recent years. And it doesn't just apply to politics. Nearly 60 percent of U.S. respondents to the new Edelman poll reported their "sense of grievance against business, government, and the rich is moderate or higher than before, which is generating some worrying consequences."

"The U.S. figure is only slightly below the average 61% grievance expressed by the 33,000 people Edelman questioned in its global survey. The key drivers of that sentiment were perceptions that companies and governments make decisions that negatively affect most people while only serving a select few. That figured into the wider prevailing view that political and economic systems are structured to favor the rich-who were said to grow wealthier from those arrangements all the time."

Discontent and grievance have surged across U.S. demographics, reaching new highs and eroding trust in companies, CEOs, and government. Nearly 60% of U.S. respondents reported a greater sense of grievance against business, government, and the rich. Key drivers include perceptions that companies and governments make decisions that harm most people while serving a select few. Distrust is stronger among lower and modest-income groups than among the affluent. Nearly two-thirds said the threat of discrimination has increased since 2024, with a notable rise among white respondents. This surge of victimized resentment spans politics and workplaces and may create serious challenges for business owners.

Read at Fast Company