Cisco received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2). In 2011, Cisco terminated a contract with a high-ranking consultant for authoring a book expressing his agreement with the Biblical definition of marriage (3). Cisco has hired a new CEO since this incident, though current CEO Chuck Robbins was a senior vice president at the company at the time of the firing. However, the company later backtracked this decision, apologizing and stating that the consultant remained a vendor with the company (4).

Cisco does give to religious charities, but the receiving charity must have a policy that recipients of charitable works and donations are “not encouraged or required to learn about, adhere to, or convert to that organization’s religious doctrine as a condition of receiving service from the program” (1)(2).

Cisco does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).

Cisco’s PGLE membership reflects its commitment to “operationalize” company coverage of transgender surgery and treatment, the vetting of business partners based on LGBTQ+ policies, and the financial support of LGBTQ organizations on a global level (1)(2)(3). The company signed an open letter supporting the Equality Act (4). Cisco’s CEO also publicly spoke out against the Georgia voting bill, and the company has joined the Civic Alliance to oppose various state-level election security laws (5)(6). Cisco offers unconscious bias training as part of its “core curriculum” for managers and employees (7)(8). Robbins has also publicly supported stricter firearm regulation in the United States (9). Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (10)(11).

Cisco 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). Cisco established a donation fund to “fight racism and discrimination” which funds Color of Change, the Human Rights Campaign, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Anti-Defamation League and other ideological organizations (3). The company is a founding member of the PGLE (4).Cisco has also made progress on its 2020 pledge to donate $5 million to the Black Lives Matter organization and related causes (5)(6). Cisco is a Bronze sponsor of Out and Equal (7).

Cisco has donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2)(3).