
Comcast
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Comcast has severed ties with employees and business partners based on their political views once activists applied pressure and has no policies in place to protect against this political discrimination. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. Comcast pledged $100 million to BLM and related causes and covers employee abortion costs. The company is a corporate partner of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and may have funded Planned Parenthood. Comcast is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. However, it does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Comcast 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.
Comcast received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Comcast has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). In 2018, Comcast fired a long-term employee over alleged ties to the Proud Boys group after public pressure from activists. It does not seem that the employee engaged in any illegal behavior (2)(3). In 2020, Comcast cut ties with a lobbyist who issued criticisms of Black Lives Matter (4).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Comcast does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Comcast does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Comcast 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). The company is also an advocate for the Equality Act and has issued statements opposing the Georgia election security bill (3)(4)(5). CEO Brian Roberts 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 (6)(7).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Comcast donated $100 million dollars to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (1)(2)(3). Comcast has also donated to multiple United Way chapters, some of which may have donated to Planned Parenthood (4). Comcast announced that it would fund employees’ travel to get an abortion (5). Comcast is a bronze partner, a silver sponsor of Out and Equal, and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (6)(7)(8).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Comcast used to donate in a bipartisan manner consistent with its business interests but has donated to ideological groups such as the Equality PAC (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
July 12, 2023
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Voting History
Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/7/23 | Governance | Arjuna Capital | Report on Political Spending Values Congruency | Against | 18.90% |
6/7/23 | Social | SEIU Master Trust | Perform a Racial Equity Audit | Against | 10.76% |
6/7/23 | Environmental | John Chevedden | Report on Paris-Compliant Plan to Cut Carbon Footprint | Against | 9.71% |
6/7/23 | Environmental | As You Sow | Report on Retirement Plan Alignment with Climate Goals | Against | 5.97% |
6/7/23 | Social | National Legal and Policy Center | Report on Ties to Communist China | Against | 1.70% |
6/1/22 | Social | Arjuna Capital | Report on Investigation of Effectiveness of Sexual Harassment Policies | Against | 22.28% |
6/1/22 | Social | SEIU Master Trust | Independent Racial Equity Audit | Against | 18.30% |
6/1/22 | Environmental | Elizabeth Kantor Trust | Report on Retirement Plan Options Alignment with Climate Goals | Against | 5.95% |
6/1/22 | Social | National Center for Public Policy Research | Report on Risks of Omitting "Viewpoint" & "Ideology" from EEO Policy | Against | 1.44% |
6/1/22 | Social | National Legal and Policy Center | Report on Charitable Contributions | Against | 0.92% |
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