Survation's poll for the Unions21 Fair Work Commission has highlighted widespread public support for legally guaranteed employee board representatives. The poll revealed that 76% of UK employees and 89% of trade union members are in favour of workforce representatives sitting on company boards of directors, with only 6% of respondents opposed to the idea.
Those employees who voted Labour in 2010 were the most favourably disposed, with 85% in support, followed by Liberal Democrat voters with 81% and Conservative voters with 70%.
The most popular proportion was 10-20% of board seats, with over half of all respondents (53%) saying they would support 10% or 20% of seats on company boards being reserved by law for workforce representatives.
Only 7% of employees were opposed to legally reserving any seats for workforce representatives.
This news comes after a period of considerable political interest in improving corporate governance and making companies more accountable to their various stakeholders.
All three party leaders have spoken in the last 18 months about the need to move towards more 'responsible capitalism' and a 'John Lewis Economy', and both Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have expressed support for the idea of workers sitting on remuneration committees, but as of yet there has been little in the way of concrete action in this area.
Survation polled 1,004 workers in full and part time employment between 1st – 4th February 2013. Full data tables available here.