Designer Brands, Inc. - 1792 Exchange

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Medium Risk

Summary:

Designer Brands, Inc., which is a footwear and accessories brands, 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. Designer Brands covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. The company's CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge, and the company's subsidiaries have advocated for LGBTQ Pride month. However, Designer Brands does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Designer Brands, Inc. 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

Designer Brands 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

Designer Brands does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Designer Brands 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

Designer Brands CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (1). The company’s subsidiary. DSW promotes LGBTQ Pride month through its apparel and advocacy (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Designer Brands 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).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

N/A

Rationale

Designer Brands, Inc. does not operate a PAC at this time (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 24, 2023

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