Ford
Risk Level:
Summary:
Ford Motor Company fired a Christian employee in 2015 for remarks he made against Ford's advocacy for LGBTQ rights, which he alleged was religious discrimination. Ford has not canceled other business contracts; the company even pushed back against pressure to stop making police vehicles. It has used its charitable donations without ideological intent, including some grants to faith-based groups. Ford has also opposed state efforts to increase election security and endorsed the Equality Act. Importantly, Ford lacks viewpoint or political affiliation protections in its discrimination policy. For these reasons, Ford 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.
Ford has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. The company received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Ford has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). A former Ford contractor filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor Company, alleging that his firing was in direct result of comments he made in 2015 in response to the company’s LGBTQ advocacy (2). He claimed it was religious discrimination. In 2020, Ford resisted pressure from employees to stop the production of police vehicles (3).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Ford does not permit donations to “religious programs or sectarian programs for religious purposes” (1). However, it has worked with some religious organizations in the past, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic (2). Ford does not have a matching program for employee volunteering or donations at this time.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Ford does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (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.
Ford Motor Company does not donate to ideological causes or organizations hostile to freedom of expression. In 2016, allegations surfaced suggesting that Ford donated to the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Lives Matter, and other leftist groups. Ford Motor responded by denying the allegations, clarifying that the Ford Motor Company has no relation to the Ford Foundation, which is a private foundation founded by the Ford family but presently disconnected from the company (1) (2) (3). Neither Ford nor its charitable arm donates to leftist groups (3)(4). In 2015, Ford Motor requested that Planned Parenthood remove Ford from its sponsor’s list, as Ford does not currently donate to the organization (5).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023
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