By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, Staples increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children and provides specific sexual orientation and gender identity-based benefits. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in marketing. Staples 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. The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and educates its employees on social justice. For these reasons, Staples receives a High Risk rating.