Edelman
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Edelman, one of the world's largest global communications firm, pledged to not work with gun manufacturers or tobacco companies. Edelman also vets vendors according to LGBTQ and Environmental policies. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children and has used its corporate reputation and funds to advance LGBT and gender ideology. The company is part of the Don't Ban Equality Coalition to support abortion access and is a founding member of the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality (PGLE). Edelman has stated that it is a corporate mandate to speak out against systemic racism. For these reasons, Edelman 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.
Daniel Edelman, the CEO of Edelman, published a statement that Edelman will not work with gun manufacturers or tobacco companies (1). Edelman 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 (2)(3). The company requires that all suppliers adhere to its Environmental Policy (4)(5).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Edelman does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. The company focuses on funding Good Health & Well-being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Gender Equality, and Climate Action (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Edelman protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Edelman’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 established a DJE Board Climate and Sustainability Committee and requires that all employees participate in unconscious bias training (4)(5)(6). Edelman is a part of the Don’t Ban Equality coalition; company leaders including Katie Spring, President of Edelman Smithfield, have promoted greater abortion access (7)(8). Edelman’s Senior VP, Lauren Gray published a statement supporting advancing the Equality Act, and the company has used its TikTok account to support Pride Month (9)(10). During the Black Lives Matter movement, Edelman published an article stating that brands have a moral obligation to speak out against systemic racism and that “this is a mandate for brands to act” (11). Edelman Holdings, Edelman’s parent company, is part of The Business Coalition for the Equality Act (12).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Edelman 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 a founding member of the PGLE, a global LGBT initiative and has pledged to donate its services to the Gun Safety Alliance (3)(4). Edelman also matched employee donations to Project Unloaded, an organization whose goal is to create “a new cultural narrative that guns make us less safe” (5)(6). The company has partnered with GLAAD to conduct research on the LGBTQ community (7).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Edelman does not operate a PAC at this time (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
October 3, 2023
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