Gilead Sciences

California
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Gilead Sciences vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. It does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving guidelines, but does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. Gilead Sciences has advocated for the Equality Act and partners with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Gilead also covers abortion-related travel costs for employees and the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. The company pledged $10 million to BLM and related causes and corporately denounced state legislative efforts to revise their own electoral processes. However, Gilead has not used its political contributions to advance ideological causes. For these reasons, Gilead Sciences 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

Gilead Sciences has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs. The company 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).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gilead Science only funds organizations related to medical, scientific, and patient community support (1). It does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gilead Sciences 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

Gilead has advocated for the Equality Act (1). The company also spoke out against what it called “voter suppression” in various conservative states as those states amended their election laws after the pandemic (2). The letter called for boycotting events in those states and divesting business when possible.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gilead Sciences 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). Gilead also pays for its employees’ travel and lodging to get an abortion (3). Gilead Sciences funded the HRC (4). Gilead is a Bronze sponsor of Out and Equal and is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (5)(6). Gilead has pledged $10 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (7)(8).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gilead Sciences has not used its political contributions for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/3/23SocialAdrian Dominican SistersReport on Impact of Extended Patent Exclusivities on Product AccessAgainst16.50%
5/3/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenSpecial Shareholder Meeting ImprovementAgainst4.60%
5/3/23GovernanceJing ZhaoNominate More Candidates than there are DirectorsAgainst0.70%
5/4/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenSpecial Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 10%Against56.66%
5/4/22SocialMaryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic3rd Party Review of Alignment of Lobbying with its Public StatementsAgainst49.88%
5/4/22GovernanceUnited Church FundsRequire Independent Board ChairAgainst40.33%
5/4/22GovernanceMercy Investment ServicesReport on Board Oversight of Risks Related to Anticompetitive PracticesAgainst39.27%
5/4/22GovernanceJing ZhaoAdopt a Policy to Include Non-Management Employee as Director CandidatesAgainst6.67%
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