Bayer

Germany
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Bayer vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies, is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, 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 and funds multiple LGBTQ organizations. It supports the Equality Act and opposed a Florida bill to prevent schools from teaching gender ideology to children. Bayer discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving and is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. However, it does not use its PAC contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Bayer 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

Bayer is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (1)(2)(3). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (4). However, there are no publicly known cases of employees being fired for religious or political beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bayer will not donate to “religious organizations for religious purposes” (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bayer does not protect 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

Bayer 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 signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (3). Bayer 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). Former Bayer President Philip Blake signed the Business Roundtable’s 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bayer is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (1)(2)(3). The company is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (4)(5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bayer donates politically in a bipartisan manner and does not use support ideological agendas (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
June 17, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Generate Reports
Clear
Toast