General Electric (GE)

Massachusetts
Capital Goods

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

General Electric (GE) vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. GE covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. GE likely funds Planned Parenthood and is a corporate partner of the NGLCC. GE is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act and made a statement in opposition to Georgia's voting reform bill. However, it does provide its employees with viewpoint protections and it does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, GE 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

GE received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means GE has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). GE 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

GE will not match employee donations to churches or religious organizations (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GE protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (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

GE is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act and made a statement in opposition to Georgia’s voting reform bill (1)(2). GE CEO is a member of the Business Roundtable (3).  GE’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (4)(5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GE has enabled employees to donate to Planned Parenthood directly from their paychecks and is a corporate partner of the NGLCC (1)(2). GE continues to donate to Planned Parenthood via donations to the United Way (3)(4). According to its internal annual and sustainability reports, GE does not currently donate to ideological groups, including Planned Parenthood (5)(6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GE has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes and lobbies in a manner consistent with its business interests (2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 19, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/3/23EnvironmentalThe National Center for Public Policy ResearchFiduciary Carbon-Emission Relevance ReportAgainst1.10%
5/3/23GovernanceMartin HarangozoSale of the CompanyAgainst0.50%
5/3/23GovernanceKenneth SteinerIndependent Board ChairmanAgainst31.70%
5/3/23EnvironmentalHenry H. Barrett and MKT Forces Trading LimitationsAssess Energy-Related Asset ResilienceAgainst9.80%
5/4/22GovernanceMartin HarangozoCessation of all Executive Stock Option & Bonus ProgramsAgainst1.91%
5/4/22GovernanceAlexandra BrownApprove Nomination Employee Representative DirectorAgainst4.68%
5/4/22GovernanceSOC Investment GroupShareholder Ratification of Termination PayAgainst36.22%
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