Ford Motor Co.

Michigan
Automobiles and Components

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Ford Motor Company has not canceled business contracts due to views or beliefs; the company even pushed back against pressure to stop making police vehicles. Ford vets vendors according to LGBTQ nondiscrimination policies and does not provide its employees with legal protections against viewpoint discrimination. Ford covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. The company has also opposed state efforts to increase election security and endorsed the Equality Act. Ford is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. For these reasons, Ford 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

Ford Motor Co. 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 (HRC CEI profile). Among other requirements, this means Ford has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2). In 2020, despite pressure from some employees, Ford did not stop the production of vehicles for police units (3).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Ford donates to a variety of charitable causes and programs; the company and its employees have worked with some religious organizations in the past, including during the COVID-19 pandemic (1)(2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ford 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

Ford issued a statement opposing various state election security laws (1). Ford also encouraged adding LGBTQ protections to a Michigan civil rights law (2). In response to a Twitter comment, Ford created the “Very Gay Raptor” (3). Ford Motor Company also supports the Equality Act (4). Former Ford CEO James P. Hackett signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (5). Ford is a Ceres Network Member, committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2040 (6)(7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ford’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). 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 (3)(4)(5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Ford Motor Co. donated to the Equality PAC in 2022 (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 31, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/11/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenEqual Voting Rights for Each ShareAgainst35.90%
5/11/23SocialThe National Center for Public Policy ResearchChild Labor AuditAgainst6.30%
5/11/23EnvironmentalPeople for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsTransparency and Minimization of Animal TestingAgainst4.80%
5/12/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenGive Each Share an Equal VoteAgainst36.59%
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