GlaxoSmithKline

United Kingdom
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has not terminated business relationships due to religious or political beliefs. Though, it does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination and vets suppliers for their LGBTQ policies. The company has supported the Equality Act and abortion rights. GSK also prohibits charitable donations from going to faith-based organizations. GSK has not corporately funded ideological organizations, however. For these reasons, GSK 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

GSK has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (1). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GSK will not donate to religious organizations (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GSK does not protect employees from 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

GSK has signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). GSK is a founding member of the Proud Science Alliance, which describes itself as “a collective of healthcare and life sciences sector LGBTQ+ networks who work together to raise the bar on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their organizations and the sector as a whole” (2). GSK spoke out in favor of abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GSK does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1). However, GSK has pledged to cover abortion travel costs across state lines for employees’ abortions (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

GSK has not used its PAC for ideological purposes (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 24, 2023

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