Bridgestone

Japan
Automobiles and Components

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

By complying with Human Rights Campaign's controversial demands, Bridgestone increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in employee recruitment, vendor selection, marketing, and philanthropic support. Bridgestone uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. The company supports the Equality Act and was a sponsor of Nashville Pride 2022. For these reasons, Bridgestone receives a High Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bridgestone matches gifts to accredited colleges and universities in the United States, as well as to funds that will transmit gifts to eligible colleges and universities. There are rules about what the donation cannot be used for, but the company’s policy does not discriminate against religious institutions (1). The company’s HRC CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bridgestone does not provide protections against viewpoint discrimination (1). The company‘s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees (2)(3).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Bridgestone signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). The company‘s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy (2)(3). By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bridgestone was a sponsor of Nashville Pride 2022, a parade and festival which bills itself as “a family friendly event” that also features “Special Drag Performances” throughout the day, including drag performances in front of children (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology (4)(5). By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Bridgestone has not used its PAC donations or lobbied for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3). The company‘s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives (4)(5). By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
January 21, 2024

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