Berkshire Bank
Corporate Bias Rating
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Risk Level:
Summary:
Berkshire Bank scored a 90 on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, Berkshire Bank increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in employee recruitment, vendor selection, marketing, and philanthropic support. Berkshire is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment, incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making, and other business practices. The company forces employees to undergo multiple ideological trainings and uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. Berkshire Bank opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces. The company supports the Equality Act and was part of the Freedom for All Americans coalition, which advocated for federal legislation that would overrule state laws designed to protect girls' sports and similar laws. For these reasons, Berkshire Bank earns a High Risk rating.
Shareholder Proposals
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Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5/4/24 | Social | Meredith Benton | Greater Disclosure of Material Corporate Diversity | Against | N/A |
5/4/24 | Governance | Segal Marco Advisors | Form a Railroad Safety Committee | Against | N/A |
5/4/24 | Environmental | National Center for Public Policy Research | Goal to reach GHG emissions by 2050 | Against | N/A |
5/4/24 | Social | National Legal and Policy Center | Shareholder Proposal Concerning a Report on Operations in China | Against | N/A |
5/4/24 | Environmental | As You Sow | Climate-Related Transition Planning | Against | N/A |
5/4/24 | Environmental | Michael Frerichs | Disclose and Reduce GHG Emissions | Against | N/A |