Best Buy

Minnesota
Retailing

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Best Buy vets vendors based on their LGBTQ protections but otherwise has not engaged in canceling clients based on their viewpoints. The company does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination, but it does advocate for the Equality Act, supports Pride Month, and spends its time denouncing localized state efforts to reform its own election laws. Best Buy funds the Human Rights Campaign. Furthermore, Best Buy weaponized its PAC by refusing to give to Republican officials based on their vote not to certify the 2020 election. For these reasons, Best Buy 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

Best Buy received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (1)(2). Among other requirements, this means Best Buy has a written policy requiring suppliers not to discriminate on the basis of LGBTQ identity. Best Buy has not publicly fired employees or clients based on viewpoints.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Best Buy limits its corporate charitable giving to nonprofits that invest in STEM education for students of various ages, plus St. Jude’s Hospital for Children (1)(2). Best Buy’s annual gift-matching grants do not include religious groups (3). Eligibility guidelines for Best Buy’s employee donation-matching program are not publicly available (4).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Best Buy 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

Best Buy signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). Best Buy also issued a statement urging state legislators to vote no on election reform bills that “restrict voter access” (2). Best Buy is an advocate of progressive gender ideology, supporting Pride Month and various LGBTQ events affirming transgender ideology (3)(4).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Best Buy is a Bronze Corporate Partner of the Human Rights Campaign (1). Best Buy has committed to addressing racial equality through investing in schools, businesses, and educational programs – none of these programs are explicitly ideological in nature or hostile to freedom of expression (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Best Buy weaponized its PAC by cutting off donations to certain Republicans in 2021 (1)(2). Best Buy has since resumed bipartisan donations (3).

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