Americans Would Rather Remain Unemployed than Work for Companies with Bad Corporate Reputations

A majority (69 percent) of Americans would not take a job with a company that had a bad reputation, even if they were unemployed, according to recent survey findings.

CR Magazine commissioned the poll, which gathered responses from over 1,000 employed and unemployed Americans to gain insights into how both corporate reputation and transparency can impact job decisions.

Of the people surveyed who were currently employed, more than half (62 percent) would take a job with a company that had a bad reputation if they were offered more money. How much? The majority in 2013 said they would require between a 50 percent and 100 percent increase.

The findings also show that salary and location factor into Americans’ decision to move to a company with a bad corporate reputation. In 2013, those surveyed making $100K or more required the most money to consider a move to a company with a bad reputation.  Individuals who would consider taking these jobs in 2013 lived mostly in the Northeast (64 percent) and West (64 percent).

In contrast, the vast majority (84 percent) would consider leaving their current jobs if offered another role with a company that had an excellent corporate reputation.  Most people would only require a 1 percent to 10 percent salary increase to consider such a move.