Fed up of businesses aligning themselves with politics!

[thehorsehasnowbolted]

I was about to grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich yesterday at a major retailer when I noticed on the package that 5% of that purchase would go to Shelter.

Why are we being increasingly forced nowadays to contribute to causes we may not necessarily agree with in this way? Why don't businesses stick to selling goods? Why the constant virtue signalling? It's annoying

I do not intend to comment on this charity in particular, but I have seen my fair share of pensioners being out of pocket to evict problem tenants who were in a position to pay the rent and look after properties but simply didn't want to and just played the system.

The results of charities activities are not always 100% positive, so customers shouldn't be forced to contribute in this way.

Why do businesses assume that their customers agree with the charities they pick? The constant virtue signalling is patronising and insulting.

Nike, whose strong support for a potentially divisive cause - the Black Lives Matter movement - led to increases in sales, share price and brand reputation

Thanks for the heads up. Besides learning that the company's share price has actually plummeted, I came across the following article. It seems I'm not the only 'unhinged' or 'silly' one. Obviously only those who are not squeamish and afraid to click on a DM link need to have a peak. Nothing will happen if you venture out of your echo chamber, you know

www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10446033/From-M-Ms-Nike-firms-turning-brands-social-justice-warriors-warns-DOMINIC-SANDBROOK.html

Do they? Prove it

Yes, I will prove it in the same way that posters 'feel' they are a majority, 'are confident that' they can interpret 'sentiment' and are able to ventriloquise on behalf of 'the world'

The Daily Mail isn't evidence . Nothing to do with comfort zones, everything to do with who they are. And share prices and sales are different things, affected by different factors.

Blimey OP, you are a treat! I used to work as a corporate partner with the charity you are talking about, they did the most incredible job and it was way more wide ranging than people realise. But clearly you are an aggrieved landlord who has been trying to boot someone out.

the fact is this partnership has gone on for years and clearly raises significant funds for this charity, so they both continue with the partnership. Homelessness at Christmas resonates, children living in temporary accommodation (like baby Jesus) at Christmas resonates. And when people are dropping several quid on a sandwich, maybe they are quite happy to think some of that is going to a good cause.

Gillette support for the me too movement didn't work out too well for them.

OK, so I've just read your link (off to wash my hands now). It's basically a ranting opinion piece based on no data. It says that many corporations don't treat their staff well and operate outside the borders of what is ethical. Nobody on this thread has said otherwise - we have just pointed out that charity links make corporations money.

The piece also states that some companies are finding times tough, and implying that this is because they are 'woke' - but no evidence supporting cause and effect is provided. Correlation does not equal causation.

It does absolutely nothing to support your POV but the fact that all you could find on this is an opinion piece from the Mail does speak volumes.

pointy you forgot to mention this

The more a firm preaches about social justice, the less it's focusing on the things that really matter in any business. Productivity and profit — the things that push up living standards across the world

And this

Woke-washing is beginning to infect our industry,' he told a conference in Cannes. 'It's polluting purpose. It's putting in peril the very thing which offers us the opportunity to help tackle many of the world's issues. What's more, it threatens to further destroy trust in our industry.'

the fact that all you could find on this is an opinion piece from the Mail does speak volumes

It's not all I could find, I just found it quite quickly. How political affiliations are making businesses take the eye off the ball and harming brands.

As previously mentioned M&S food sales are up 5.6%.

I have worked in CSR for a large (unpopular) corporate. We did shedloads, and worked with a range of charities like Shelter, Age Concern, Carers etc to help us understand how our business impacted the most vulnerable and to put safety nets in place. It cost us money, lots of money. But we weren’t a luxury choice, we were an essential.

they helped us redesign how our entire processes and safeguarding worked, we donated to them to help them keep the lights on and employ amazing people.

I’ve also worked for a lottery which raised money for a ton of charities, from tiny community places, to massive global charities and some very challenging and ‘less popular’ charities. The company was not a charity, it wasn’t a not for profit.

If I told you about the marketing data we gathered right down to a person’s street, it would make you hair curl.

Such a fuss over giving 12p to Shelter.

Can I just check OP, are you Katie Hopkins? Twitter might have you back soon.

Caplin as I said on my OP, I do not intend to comment on this specific charity.

My issue is with charity affiliations of businesses in general and forced donations through product purchases. Businesses should stick to doing business. They need not take any sides or push political agendas. It is not welcome, and there is always the potential to alienate your customer base.

Forced donations are becoming another form or tax. If people want to donate they can set up a DD for their chosen charity, it shouldn't be compulsory and there is no requirement for a middle man

I say again: That is an opinion piece. There is no underpinning analysis. It is therefore meaningless. You know the old saying: opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.

@thehorsehasnowbolted does this affect your argument?

for a large (unpopular) corporate

So it was unpopular to begin with and trying to become more popular?. Perhaps it's best to leave it there

I’m just amazed you have never noticed before, this partnership has been going on since 2005 and has raised over £6m just from sandwiches, and over £14.5 million overall.

Nobody is forcing you. You choose an alternative product or different retailer.

Businesses are always political - you just have to tot up the donations from businesses to political parties.

The Conservative party and its MPs have registered £1.3m in gifts and donations from climate sceptics and fossil fuel interests since the 2019 general election, an investigation by the Guardian can reveal.
Oil companies, petrostates, airports and businesses linked with Russian energy tycoons are among this set of donors, who have either made money from fossil fuels or stand to lose economically or politically from cutting emissions.

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/25/tories-received-13m-from-fossil-fuel-interests-and-climate-sceptics-since-2019

Sometimes companies just want to the right thing, because believe it or not, the people who work there are humans, generally kind humans not driven entirely by greed and profit….yes, even in big companies.

Businesses are always political - you just have to tot up the donations from businesses to political parties

Of course, but they do not force their customers to participate in the lobbying process.

Also the type of lobbying you refer to and the hailing of all type of causes (unrelated to their business) are very different

Ah so it's fine for businesses to buy political sway.
Not fine for businesses to donate to charity.
Understood.

OK, so essentially bribing politicians is fine by you, but donating to charity and thereby annoying some customers is terrible and must be stopped?

The industries I know about are always doing this and I don't know why they aren't called out on it. The hypocrisy is mind blowing.

However if it's cold hard cash for homeless charities that actually spend wisely (st. Mungos for example) im not sure if it matters that it's a brand that are likely to fall flat on their virtue signalling faces at any moment. Their hostel gas bill still needs paying.

It's like VW pulling their advertising from Twitter recently - you didn't have a problem with the appalling bullying on Twitter until EM started doing it. You clearly have no problem lying and cheating to make a few quid, so you really think our memories are so short?!

Correct way for businesses to involve themselves in politics -

Concerns have been raised over the City’s influence on Westminster, after a report found financial firms and individuals tied to the sector donated £15m to political parties and gave £2m to MPs during the pandemic.

amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/06/city-donations-worth-15m-raise-concerns-influence-uk-politics

The wrong way for businesses to involve themselves in politics -

This is an M&S Food Christmas campaign – with added magic. One incredible range of festive food. £2 million donated to UK charities.

And from a few years ago -

For the last 12 years, M&S has made it their tradition to support Shelter at Christmas by donating 5% of every purchase from their Festive Collection food range to our helpline. Last year, they funded all the calls that we answered over the Christmas period, helping us offer support at a particularly distressing time for those facing homelessness. M&S also support us throughout the year by donating clothing samples to our Shelter charity shops, and through its Sparks card chosen charity donation scheme. With the generous support of customers like you, we’ve raised an incredible £9.8 million since 2005.

And this year -

M&S has partnered with Neighbourly to give £1 million to 1000 local community groups through the giving platform as 69% of local community groups report rise in pressure on services but drop in funding.

www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/christmas-food-hub/christmas-charities