McKesson

McKesson was sued by a former company vice president, who claimed that the company fired her for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds (1). The company denied the allegation, stating that the employee was fired for other reasons, but later reached an agreement with the employee (2)(3). The company received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (4)(5). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

McKesson’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company’s charitable giving guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (3).

McKesson’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its Corporate Governance Guidelines page: “The Board believes that its members should have the highest professional and personal ethics, integrity, values, and represent diverse backgrounds and experiences, consistent with the Company’s values” (3). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment and hiring. From its 2025 Corporate Impact Report: The company measures the “Percentage of gender and racial/ ethnic group representation for 1) management, (2) professionals, and (3) all other employees” (4). The company protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (5).

McKesson’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (3). The company’s CEO Brian Tyler is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders (4)(5). The company’s CEO, Brian S. Tyler, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (6)(7). The company signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (8). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its FY25 Impact Report: “The Board’s Governance and Sustainability Committee regularly reviews McKesson’s ESG practices, including environmental sustainability and matters concerning our commitment to delivering value to customers, employees,
suppliers, shareholders, and local communities” (9). The company scored a 100 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (10)(11). The company is a signatory of GLAAD’s statement of support for LGBTQ+ equality (12).

McKesson’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal (3). The company is a sponsor of Dallas Pride (4). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (5).

McKesson’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (3)(4)(5).