Do controversial issues have a place in business? We will soon have a new Chick-fil-A in Flagstaff. Do I attend the ribbon cutting?
The national owner of Chick-fil-A has taken a public stand against same gender marriage. Because of this stance, the mayor of Boston has said the business is not welcome in that city. On the contrary, the mayor of New York said that a city has no right to censor the voice of a business owner, so Chick-fil-A is welcome there.
Chick-fil-A is somewhat unusual because it is a national corporation that is family owned. What about a corporation with thousands of stockholders? Should the CEO take a corporate stand on a non-business issue that may not be shared by all the owners? Should the owner of a sport’s team take a position that not all the players support? Does a small business in Flagstaff run the risk of losing customers because the owner has become publicly vocal about an issue or about a political candidate?
When I was campaigning to become mayor, some businesses would display my sign and others would decline, although they supported me in other less visible ways.
Does a business owner have the obligation to take a stand, regardless of the effect on the business? Or, should a business owner avoid controversy for the sake of the business?
I recently spoke at a networking group of business owners in Flagstaff. I posed these questions. The consensus seemed to be that public pronouncements about politics and religion are up to the owner, but public officials have no role in saying whether a business is “acceptable” in a city.
If it is a legal business, it has a right to be there and a right to be welcomed. It is up to each individual to decide if they want to be a customer.
So, if I am at the ribbon cutting of Chick-fil-A, does that mean I am against same-gender marriage? No, it only means I am welcoming a new business. It might seem logical to now ask me if I would welcome a store selling neo-Nazi paraphernalia and bomb making supplies. No. I see a difference between the nature of the business and the politics of the owner. A good business is a welcome business. The owner’s politics are a matter for the customer. FBN