Baxter International

Hill-Rom
Illinois
Health Care Equipment and Services

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Baxter International vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. However, it 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. Baxter funds the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and pledged over $6 million to BLM and related causes. The company hosts mandatory unconscious bias trainings for employees and is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Baxter International is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. The company is a Ceres Network Member, committed to carbon neutrality by 2040. However, the company does not use its PAC contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Baxter International 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

Baxter International received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the HRC (1)(2). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships due to political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Baxter International Foundation does not give direct grants to religious institutions but will match employee donations to community-based projects and houses of worship through the employee matching and Dollars for Doers programs (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Baxter International does not provide viewpoint protections for its 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

Baxter International requires all employees to complete unconscious bias training (1). Baxter International’s CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (2). Baxter partners with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (3). Baxter CEO José Almeida is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (4)(5). Baxter International is a Ceres Network Member, committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2040 (6)(7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Baxter International 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). In 2020, the HRC listed Baxter as a supporter of its Report on Discrimination of Black LGBTQ people (3). Baxter has also pledged over $6 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (4)(5). The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Baxter Healthcare Inc., a subsidiary of Baxter International,  does not use its PAC donations for ideological purposes (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/2/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenRequire Executives to Retain Significant StockAgainst31.20%
5/2/23GovernanceKenneth SteinerRequire Shareholder Approval of Termination PayAgainst9.70%
5/3/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenSpecial Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 10%Against34.88%
5/3/22GovernanceKenneth SteinerIndependent Board ChairAgainst22.73%
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