What do a sausage maker and an insurance giant have in common? A growing concern about the divisions fracturing American society — and a willingness to do something about it.
Sarah Bonk
Kara Revel Jarzynski
At Johnsonville, headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, recent research with The Harris Poll found that 82% of Americans agree there’s too much outrage in the country and wish we could “turn down the temperature.” The company’s “Keep It Juicy” campaign, voiced by actor Vince Vaughn, encourages Americans to reclaim everyday joy and civility.
Meanwhile, Allstate, one of the nation’s largest insurers based in suburban Chicago, launched a three-year initiative with the Aspen Institute to strengthen trust in communities. Their message is clear: “Strong communities, businesses and relationships are built on trust.”
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These efforts reflect a broader trend: companies are no longer sitting on the sidelines while the social fabric unravels. From brand campaigns to cross-sector partnerships, more business leaders are investing in solutions — in their workplaces as well as communities — to rebuild trust, civility and social cohesion.
And there’s good reason to act. In a 2024 study, the Society for Human Resource Management found that U.S. employers collectively lose more than $2 billion each day due to lost productivity and absenteeism caused by toxic workplace behavior. These numbers reflect a larger national crisis: Americans are exhausted by division, and it’s showing up at the office, in customer interactions, and on company balance sheets.
While individual company initiatives are an important start, broader public solutions are also needed. One business-friendly response is the federal Building Civic Bridges Act, which would support local initiatives that help Americans connect across differences and heal our social and political divides.
This bipartisan bill, recently reintroduced in the 119th Congress, has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Hispanic Business Council. Business for America has rallied support from well-known brands such as Cummins, REI Co-op, Salesforce, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. The legislation would fund research-backed, community-based programs that strengthen civic connections and teach skills like active listening, respectful dialogue and conflict resolution.
When it comes to return on investment for business, the Building Civic Bridges Act would generate a ripple effect far beyond civic nonprofits. It could help address three growing challenges:
- Frontline workers are increasingly subjected to the emotional fallout of polarization. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2022, 78% of frontline employees and managers say abusive behavior from customers has increased in recent years. The Society for Human Resource Management reports that U.S. workers collectively experience 171 million acts of incivility every day — leading to burnout, low morale and turnover. Reducing societal hostility helps protect employees.
- Workplace culture is at risk. The political climate has seeped into our breakrooms and Slack channels. A 2024 survey found that 71% of U.S. workers report having polarizing, political or controversial conversations at work and 87% of employers are concerned about managing divisive political beliefs. Left unaddressed, these rifts lead to toxicity, disengagement and lost talent.
- Division is not just bad for workplace dynamics — it’s a barrier to policy progress and economic growth. In a 2024 Gartner report, U.S. business leaders ranked political polarization as the second-highest emerging risk after generative AI. When Congress is gridlocked, the issues that matter to business — from workforce development to supply chains to climate resilience — stagnate. Bridging divides is not just a cultural issue. It’s a competitiveness issue.
Fortunately, Americans are ready for change. Nearly 80% say that, given the opportunity, they would help reduce divisions in the country. What they need are the tools and spaces to do so. The Building Civic Bridges Act would provide just that.
Business leaders have a role to play in restoring civility and trust. As Johnsonville suggests, it’s time to turn down the temperature. As Allstate reminds us, where there’s optimism, there’s opportunity. And as Congress considers the Building Civic Bridges Act, we urge more business leaders to raise their voice in support. Because the future of business — and American prosperity — depends on it.
Bonk is a civic entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Business for America. Kara Revel Jarzynski is the executive director of Resolutionaries. They wrote this for The Fulcrum.
