Brown-Forman
Corporate Bias Rating
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Risk Level:
Summary:
Brown-Forman had a history of divisive employment policies, giving to controversial groups, and engaging with political stakeholder organizations. However, in August 2024, the company pledged to shift its corporate policies and practices away from stakeholder capitalism and back toward neutral. Brown Forman pledged to stop engaging with a political activist group, eliminate DEI training within the company, stop tying executive compensation to hiring based on race/sex, and stop discriminating based on race/sex in its supply chain. Brown-Forman was a member of GARM, an organization that demonetized and suppressed mainstream perspectives online. Brown-Forman is Ceres Network Member, leveraging shareholder assets and client funds to drive 2040 net-zero emission goals. For these reasons, Brown-Forman receives a Medium Risk rating.
View Full Corporate Bias Ratings ReportHas canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
Brown-Forman has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (1).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Brown-Forman will not give to “Religious organizations such as churches and synagogues” (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.
Brown-Forman required its employees to complete “unconscious bias” training. However, in September 2024, the company pledged to cease all DEI training, stop tying executive compensation to hiring based on race/sex, and stop discriminating based on race/sex in its supply chain (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Brown-Forman does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (6).
Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Brown-Forman scored a 100 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index. However, in August 2024, the company pledged to shift some of its corporate policies and practices back toward neutral. Brown-Forman pledged to stop submitting data to the HRC (1)(2)(3)(4). Brown-Forman is a Ceres Network Member, committed to carbon neutrality by 2040 (5)(6)(7).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Brown-Forman publicly advocated for divisive ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. However, in September 2024, the company pledged to shift its corporate policies and practices back toward neutral (1)(2)(3)(4). Brown-Forman has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (5)(6)(7).
Board Bias
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1792 Exchange has not yet compiled data about the board of directors or political contributions of leadership for this company.
In the News
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