Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) fired multiple employees who refused to get Covid-19 vaccinations due to religious reasons. BMS settled with those employees after a wrongful termination lawsuit. Bristol Myers Squibb covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children and is a corporate partner of Out & Equal and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The company has advocated for the Equality Act. BMS is also a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. However, BMS has not used its political contributions to advance ideological causes. For these reasons, Bristol Myers Squibb receives a High Risk rating.
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.
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) terminated former employees due to their Covid-19 vaccination status; several employees have sued BMS for religious discrimination (violation of Title VII) due to lack of religious exemptions offered or denied (1). Bristol Myers Squibb settled one of the wrongful termination lawsuits in January 2023 (2). The company 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 (3)(4).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Bristol Myers Squibb does not have a policy prohibiting donations to religious organizations (1). However, BMS will not match employee donations to churches or other religious organizations that lack a separate charitable tax-exempt entity (2). The policy states, “Gifts to religious or sectarian organizations will be matched only if and to the extent the charity provides social services to the community on a nondiscriminatory basis without any religious teaching or promotion of a particular faith, creed or doctrine and operates these services under a separate 501(c)(3).”
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
BMS does provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
BMS 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). Bristol Myers Squibb is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal (3). BMS and Celgene are corporate partners of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (4). Bristol Myers Squibb has not publicly announced whether the company will fund travel and expenses related to out-of-state abortions for its employees, though it did say it is committed to “healthy equity” and is listening to employees (5).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 28, 2023
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/2/23 | Governance | Kenneth Steiner | Require the Chairman of the Board to be an Independent Director | Against | 31.80% |
| 5/2/23 | Governance | John Chevedden | Reduce the Number of Shares Required to Call a Special Meeting | Against | 5.90% |
| 5/2/23 | Social | National Center for Public Policy Research | Commission an Audit Analyzing the Impacts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies | Against | 1.60% |
| 5/3/22 | Governance | Mercy Investment Services | Independent Board Chair | Against | 44.58% |
| 5/3/22 | Governance | Kenneth Steiner | Special Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 10% | Against | 34.33% |