The GoAuto Guy doesn’t remember why he thought, even for a split second, that it was OK to jump in on a Facebook discussion about the 2020 presidential election and refer to then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as a “hoe” in a since-deleted comment.
At least, that’s what Greg Tramontin, the well-known leader of GoAuto Low Cost Car Insurance, said in the apology statement he issued the day after his Facebook comment caused a stir on social media, prompting boycott calls throughout Baton Rouge.
“I have to be honest that I was caught up in the deep political divide and the toxic rhetoric that this country has been living in for the past several years,” Tramontin said in the statement. “My words were hurtful. I sincerely apologize. This is my wake-up call.”
In such a politically divided time, consumers and companies are experiencing something of a great awakening, with each becoming more politically conscious. Moreover, some local executives like Tramontin are discovering that publicly sharing opinions—especially controversial ones—can result in negative business consequences, Business Report details in a new feature.
More and more, both consumers and employees are demanding companies take positions on key social issues. Seven in 10 respondents to a recent Edelman Trust Barometer survey say they expect CEOs to “step in when government does not fix societal problems,” and 86% want corporate leaders to speak up on social issues.
However, there doesn’t seem to be as much of a widespread cry for what might be considered right-leaning stances. Instead, people generally want larger institutions to take positions that align more so with a socially liberal policy agenda.
By and large, smaller Baton Rouge businesses—and most U.S. small businesses, for that matter—don’t face the same kind of pressure to issue public statements on hot-button political issues. But sometimes, local institutions that conduct a significant amount of business outside city and state limits do have their feet held to the fire.
Read the full story from the latest edition of Business Report.
