Abbott Laboratories

Illinois
Health Care Equipment and Services

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Abbott Laboratories does not provide viewpoint protections for employees. Abbott has ended its business relationship with the chairman of the Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) after he criticized the public destruction of property condoned by Black Lives Matter (BLM). Abbott does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. Abbott does not appear to fund ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression or promote partisan ideological causes, although it does require unconscious bias training for every employee. For these reasons, Abbott receives a "High Risk" rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Abbott Laboratories has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. The company received a score of 95 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Abbott has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). Abbott allegedly ended its relationship with lobbyist Matt Schlapp, CEO of CPAC, after his criticism of BLM and the destruction of public property (2).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Abbott Laboratories’ gift matching program for employees restricts its giving to educational institutions, hospitals, and public broadcasting media groups and does not explicitly prohibit donations to religious organizations or religious schools (1). Abbott’s main corporate charity goals are disaster relief, international aid, and STEM education. Abbott does not have any policy or statement that indicates discrimination against religious groups in its corporate charitable giving (2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Abbott Laboratories does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

As a part of the company’s initiatives after the death of George Floyd, Abbott required all employees to undergo an “unconscious bias” training program centered around systemic racism (1). The company has not used its corporate reputation to externally promote ideological causes.

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Abbott Laboratories’ charitable foundation, the Abbott Fund, has not donated to any ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1). Abbott has in the past donated to a Planned Parenthood clinic in California, but there is no recent data to confirm ongoing donations to the organization (2).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Abbott Laboratories has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 21, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Generate Reports
Clear
Toast