Biogen

Massachusetts
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Biogen, which is a biotechnology company, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination. However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. Biogen covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children and funds employees' abortion travel expenses. The company supports the Equality Act and signed statements in opposition of anti-LGBTQ legislation. Biogen signed an amicus brief opposing Catholic Social Services in the Fulton v. Philadelphia Supreme Court case. The company's CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge and discriminates against some religious organizations in its charitable giving. However, the company has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Biogen 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

Biogen received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). The company has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on 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

Biogen’s charitable giving guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Biogen 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

Biogen signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act and statements opposing anti-LGBTQ legislation (1)(2)(3). The company hosts DEI training for its employees and signed an amicus brief in Fulton v. Philadelphia, opposing free religious expression (4)(5). Biogen signed an open letter opposing a North Carolina law that required people to use the bathroom of their biological sex (6). The company published a statement regarding its “Intersectional Pride” between the LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter movements (7). Biogen’s CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (8).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Biogen covers employees abortion travel expenses (1). The company 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 (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Biogen has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).

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

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