American Water Works Company, Inc. – Racial Justice Audit (2022)
To combat systemic racism, corporations should recognize and remedy industry- and company-specific barriers to everyone’s full inclusion in societal and economic participation. Racial gaps cost the U.S. economy an estimated $16 trillion over the past twenty years. (1) Closing the Black- and Hispanic-white wealth gaps could add 4-6% to American GDP by 2028. (2) One year after many companies made commitments to racial justice, the practical outcomes remain unclear. Fifty corporate pledges totaling $49.5 billion were characterized by a 2021 analysis as falling short of addressing systemic racism. (3) Shareholders lack independent assessments that racial equity strategies are impactful, address …
Johnson & Johnson – Racial Justice Audit
To combat systemic racism, corporations should recognize and remedy industry- and company-specific barriers to everyone’s full inclusion in societal and economic participation. Racial gaps cost the U.S. economy an estimated $16 trillion over the past twenty years. Closing the Black- and Hispanic-white wealth gaps could add 4-6% to U.S. GDP by 2028. More than one year after many companies made commitments to racial justice, the practical outcomes remain unclear. Fifty corporate pledges totaling $49.5 billion were characterized as falling short of addressing systemic racism after an August 2021 analysis. Shareholders lack independent assessments that racial equity strategies are impactful, address …
NIKE, Inc. – Human Rights (2021)
RESOLVED: Shareholders request that Nike, Inc. (“Nike” or “the Company”) publish a Human Rights Impact Assessment, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary/confidential information, examining the actual and potential human rights impacts of its cotton sourcing practices, throughout the full supply chain. SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Nike has demonstrated leadership in supply chain transparency since it first disclosed its independent factories, contracted to make NIKE products since 2005. It has become increasingly clear, however, that some of companies’ most significant and adverse social impacts occur at the very end of the supply chain, often related to the sourcing of raw materials. Recent events have …
Alphabet – Whistleblower Protection (2021)
WHEREAS: Alphabet may face business risks related to employee morale and user trust due to insufficient protection for employees voicing ethical and human rights concerns. Whistleblower protections are vital to a well-functioning company. The Department of Labor has reported a major problem with whistleblower protections is the “lack of resources and proper tracking of complaints.” According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “A non- retaliation policy alone, without a system to ensure its respect (such as disciplinary action against those who retaliate), is unlikely to encourage reporting.” For years, Alphabet has faced controversies about retaliating against workers. In December …
Apple, Inc – Human Rights (2021)
RESOLVED: Shareholders of Apple Inc. (“Apple” or the “Company”) request that the Board of Directors report annually to shareholders, at reasonable expense and excluding confidential and proprietary information, on Apple’s management systems and processes for implementing its human rights policy commitments regarding freedom of expression and access to information; the oversight mechanisms for administering such policy commitments; and a description of the actions Apple has taken in response to government or other third-party demands that were reasonably likely to limit free expression or access to information. SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Apple sells products and services in countries whose governments limit free expression …
Johnson & Johnson – Civil Rights Audit (2021)
WHEREAS : The Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 brought the significant policy issue of systemic racism to the forefront of a widespread public discussion and reckoning in America. It is clear that business as usual in the healthcare sector can result in disparate outcomes for Black Americans. For example, a recent Eli Lilly op-ed notes “Minorities make up nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population but less than 20 percent of participants in the key clinical trials…. [t]his low participation is itself a health disparity.” Further, the mortality rate for black women diagnosed with breast cancer is 42 percent higher …
Alphabet, Inc. – Whistleblower Protection (2020)
Whereas, Alphabet may face business risks related to employee morale and user trust due to insufficient protection for employees voicing ethical and human rights concerns regarding company practices. Resourcing whistleblower protections is vital to a well-functioning system. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor has reported a major problem with whistleblower protections is the “lack of resources and proper tracking of complaints, as well as a complicated patchwork of regulations that aim to protect whistleblowers.” And according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, “A non-retaliation policy alone, without a system to ensure its respect (such as disciplinary action …
Apple, Inc. – Time Off For Voting (2020)
WHEREAS: We believe a well-functioning democracy is good for the economy – which is important for both companies and investors. It may also be beneficial for a company’s reputation to be seen as supportive of democratic values. Company policies regarding time off to vote may significantly impact an employee’s ability to participate in elections. The US has one of the lowest voter participation rates in the developed world. Census data indicates that 18% of registered voters did not vote in the 2008 elections because of schedule conflicts including work. A Pew Research Report surveyed registered voters who did not vote …
Alphabet, Inc. – Google Search in China (2019)
Whereas, Google is considering introducing products that could enable censorship and potentially dangerous surveillance of citizens of China. This may pose significant legal, reputational, and financial risk for the Company. In March 2010, Google announced it would stop censoring search services on its Chinese search site and would redirect users to a site offering uncensored search. Google’s David Drummond said, “It is good for our business to push for free expression.” In August 2018, however, the Intercept reported that Google was developing a censored search engine — codenamed Dragonfly — for the Chinese market that would comply with China’s repressive …
JM Smucker Company – Human Rights Risk Assessment (2016)
Whereas: Smucker is among the top five pet food companies globally. With the acquisition of Big Heart Pet Brands, pet food accounts for more than one-quarter of total revenues and one-fifth of total segment profit for the six months ending October, 2015. Reports in The New York Times and The Guardian about forced and slave labor on fishing vessels off the coast of Thailand describe brutal and inhumane conditions for people harvesting the fish that ends up in pet food. Seafood-based pet food is among the fastest growing exports from Thailand and the United States is the largest customer of …
Recent Comments