Ascena Retail Group

Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, Cacique, Lou & Grey
New Jersey
Consumer Durables and Apparel, Retailing

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Ascena vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination, but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. Ascena and its subsidiaries have embraced ESG into their overall business strategy. engaged in DEI-related advocacy, and funded an LGBTQ advocacy group through a subsidiary. However, it has not discriminated against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Ascena receives a "Medium 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

Ascena Retail Group has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs. Ascena Retail Group has received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ascena Retail Group and its subsidiaries do not discriminate against religious organizations in their charitable giving. Ascena Retail Group has an employee donation matching program, though eligibility details are internal (1)(2). Ascena Retail Group’s charitable giving effort primarily focus on the well-being of women and children (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ascena Retail Group and its subsidiaries Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, and Cacique do not provide viewpoint protections for employees (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

Ascena Retail Group has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). The company is a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge and the Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation (3)(4). Ascena Retail Group holds mandatory unconscious bias training for employees (5). Ascena Retail Group and its subsidiaries incorporate ESG into all of their business practices (6)(7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ascena Retail Group’s subsidiary Lane Bryant funds GLSEN, which engages in LGBTQ advocacy (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Ascena Retail Group does not make PAC donations or lobby (1).

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

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