As the COVID crisis upended society over the last few months, some brands and businesses have risen to the occasion and proved just how essential they are. The newly released Essential 100list from The Harris Poll offers a ranking of corporate response to the pandemic.
Americans say 100 leading companies played a truly essential role during the crisis. The top 10, based on the survey, are (in order): United States Postal Service, Clorox, Google, United Parcel Service, Walmart, Amazon, Purell, Microsoft, FedEx, and CVS. Here’s the full Essential 100:
The Essential 100 rates companies based on their resolve, integrity, responsiveness and permanence.
What is clear from the survey is corporate America is seen as part of the solution today, rather than the problem, as was the case during the 2008 financial crisis.
“When they needed it the most, Americans put their trust in the business community to help them through COVID-19,” said John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll, in a news release. “We’ve seen widespread approval of the corporate response to the pandemic—whether pivoting to different goods and services, reinforcing supply chains, or seeking cures for the deadly virus.”
The survey also shows that the reputation of companies during COVID-19 has improved in every sector and that trust in business is at a high.
