Employees want companies to take a stand on important political and social issues, according to a new survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Glassdoor, one of the world's largest and fastest growing job sites. Nearly four in five (84 percent) U.S. workers believe companies have an important voice in proposed legislation, regulation and executive orders that could affect the employer's business or the lives of employees. With a highly charged political climate, the Glassdoor survey reveals employee expectations and preferences around employer engagement on timely political and social issues.

Younger workers are most passionate about employer commitment to hot button topics: 75 percent of those ages 18-34 expect their employer to take a stand on important issues affecting the country and their constitutional rights, including immigration, equal rights and climate change, more than any other age group: 67 percent ages 35-44 and 49 percent age 45 or older. In turn, the data suggests that employers who pay attention to taking a stand on such issues may have a recruiting advantage.

"Today's informed candidates want to work for companies that are actively engaged on topics that directly impact their lives and align with their beliefs. The question is how and when employers should approach hot-button topics without damaging their employer brand or recruiting success," said Dawn Lyon, Glassdoor chief reputation officer and senior vice president of global corporate affairs. "Employers should know that taking action is not a one-size-fits-all model. When determining how and when to engage on timely issues, it is important for employers to keep the company's mission and core values top of mind to guide decisions. The big takeaway for employers is that today's candidates, especially younger job seekers, want to work at companies that take a stand and take action."

Immigrant Workers Critical to Business Success; More Men Agree than Women
The Glassdoor survey also finds that more than half of employees and job seekers (58 percent) believe legal immigrant workers at their company are critical to the overall success of their business. Interestingly, more men (63 percent) than women (54 percent) feel this way. Across the nation, employees in the West (66 percent) feel this way more than those in the South (54 percent), Midwest (55 percent) and Northeast (61 percent).

Community and Volunteer Opportunities Matter, Especially to Millennials
Giving back is also important to employees these days. Three-quarters (75 percent) of U.S. workers expect their employer to support groups and individuals in need in their respective communities, either through donations and/or volunteer efforts. This is much more important to younger workers, as 81 percent of those ages 18-34 expect this from their employer, more than any other age group: 76 percent ages 35-44, 68 percent ages 45-54, 73 percent ages 55-64 and 66 percent age 65 or older.

In addition, volunteering for social causes is no longer limited to outside of working hours, as half of workers (51 percent) expect their employer to allow employees to use work time and resources to advocate for positive social change, regardless of political affiliation. Consistent with other age group trends within the survey's findings, younger workers expect this more  (ages 18-34; 72%) than any other age group: 56 percent ages 35-44, 37 percent ages 45-64 and 26 percent age 65 or older.

Currently, many employers across the country are finding ways to give back to their communities that align with their mission and values. For instance, at Glassdoor, employees receive three paid days off each year to support nonprofit organizations of their choice, and they are given five job postings per year to donate to a nonprofit of their choosing. Both employee benefits are part of Glassdoor's commitment to the Pledge 1% movement and align with Glassdoor's mission to help people find a job and company they love.