Altria

Virginia
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Altria Group has not publicly terminated any business relationships due to viewpoints or beliefs. It uses its corporate image to push for policies like the Equality Act and transgender participation in girls' sports; however, it does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination. Moreover, Altria has donated to the Equality PAC but will not match employee donations to churches. Altria has donated to the National Urban League. For these reasons, Altria Group 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

Altria Group has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Altria Group has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). 

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group’s employee match program does not match donations made to religious or political organizations (1). Altria’s corporate giving policy could not be found; however, the company’s 2020 charitable giving recipients include religious organizations, such as Catholic Charities (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group does not protect its employees against 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

Altria Group is an advocate for the Equality Act and transgender participation in women’s and girls’ sports (1)(2). Altria Group is a coalition partner of America Competes (3). The company signed an open letter opposing a Florida bill that would prevent teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (4). Altria has also committed to implementing ESG criteria into its business operations (5). Altria is a member of CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion (6). 

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group has made a corporate donation to the National Urban League (1). Altria has pledged over $5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Altria Group has a history of bipartisan PAC giving consistent with business interests; however, the company’s PAC contributed to the Equality PAC in 2020 (1). 

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 28, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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