America This Week Wave 235

The ROI on Kindness, This Time Veeps Really Matter, The Kids (That Play) Are Alright, and The No Politics Movement At The Office.

The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll

It’s that time of year when kids go back to school. According to our America This Week survey, conducted from August 22nd to 24th among 2,122 Americans, two-thirds of parents with kids under 18 (65%) say the school year couldn’t come soon enough! A similar number (64%) agree they’ll get their sanity back once their kids return to school.

This week, we have four new Harris polls that caught our interest:

• We have it on good authority from Elmo that we’d all be better off if we were kinder.
• Long overlooked, Americans say this year, VPs are more crucial than ever to their vote.
• Parents see youth sports as essential to childhood development in today’s anxious times.
• With the election looming, American employees want less politics in the office.

Above All Else, Be Kind: Sesame Workshop-Harris Poll

In our inaugural State of Well-Being Report with Sesame Workshop, we explore the mental health challenges permeating society and detail the hopeful signals indicating a more kind future.

See the story here

• Context: Americans view mental health as important as their economic stability.
• Overwhelming numbers of Americans saw that society must promote kindness (85%) and resilience (83%) to improve our social well-being.
• It would have a community impact: (82%) agree, “My well-being would improve if society were kinder.”
• But wishing isn’t enough: (72%) say their “well-being would improve if I had the tools to be more resilient” – increasing to (88%) when asked about children.

Takeaway: “It’s heartening to see the growing openness around mental health discussions today,” said Samantha Maltin, chief marketing and brand officer of Sesame Workshop. “Americans understand that mental health is a vital issue, and that’s why the need for our work has never been greater. By celebrating everyday joys, teaching children to understand their emotions, and helping parents recognize the signs of more serious mental health challenges, we’re building a solid foundation for children’s emotional well-being that will support them for years.”

VPs Battle It Out: Axios Vibes By The Harris Poll

While it’s still early in this hyper-compressed race, according to our latest Axios Vibes By The Harris Poll research, Vice President Kamala Harris is getting a bigger bump from picking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz than former President Trump has from Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

• Why it matters: Running mates don’t usually determine presidential elections, but this race has enough twists to test that norm.
• Two in three voters in the Axios Vibes survey said the vice presidential candidate is important to their vote this year.
• But there’s a partisan gap, with (81%) of Democratic voters and just (59%) of Republicans saying the VP choice is essential.
• The big picture: Walz outperformed Vance on a range of authenticity and compassion questions – including who better understands small-town Americans’ concerns (voters: 41% to 35%, IND: 35% v 29%) and who “has an authentic connection to everyday Americans (43% to 35%, IND: 36% v. 29%).

Takeaway: Watch for these two champions of rural values to take the debate stage. All the routes to victory, through the Blue Wall down into the Southwestern swing states, are filled with real people. Walz is perceived as more selfless, with the ethos of a teacher and a coach. But this race has many twists and turns ahead.

The Case For Youth Sports: First Tee-Harris Poll

The game of golf requires resilience, focus, and plenty of humility, especially when a drive doesn’t land quite right. According to our new research with First Tee in Forbes, parents say those character traits are in short supply for their kids.

• Parents worry kids lack life skills: (87%) lose sleep over their child’s development, and (74%) turn to extracurriculars to help improve their child’s well-being.
• Children who play sports thrive: (89%) of parents are looking for more character-building opportunities for their kids, especially as parents point to multiple benefits of youth sports. 

• The need for coaches: Most parents (90%) say that coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development.
• Yet (80%) also say there’s a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.
• Check out the full report here.

Takeaway: “Being in the youth development space, we have long been aware of the role extracurriculars can play in character development, but perhaps did not realize the urgency parents are feeling in this area,” says First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Parents are turning to sports not just for fitness or competition, but to help their kids build self-confidence, leadership skills, and much more.”

Employees Say No Politics at Work: Indeed-Harris Poll

Pay, hours, and career advancement are common reasons employees leave companies. However, according to our latest research with Indeed, featured in HR Dive, political differences are the latest factor forcing employees out the door.

• Most employees (63%) care “at least a little” about politics, and about a third (35%) admit to openly discussing politics at work.
• But that’s where they draw the line: More than half (54%) said they’re uncomfortable with political talk during the meetings.
• Respondents also expressed discomfort about subtle political messages appearing during remote meetings, such as when campaign stickers, mugs, or other kinds of political party support paraphernalia appear in the background of a Zoom.
• Nearly (40%) of Gen Z and Millennial workers said they would leave a job because of political differences at work, and (40%) said they would leave if their CEO expressed political views they disagreed with (all workers: 28%, 32%).

Takeaway: “The fact that almost half of us would rather quit our jobs over politically charged fractions than be open to respectfully coexisting is a telling sign of just how divisive we’ve become,” Indeed’s post said. “Regardless of political ideology, employees have a right to feel psychologically safe at work. For many, this means seeking out companies with similar values and priorities.”