Gucci

Italy
Consumer Durables and Apparel

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Gucci, a luxury fashion brand, has not terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs, despite the company's advocacy and ideology. Gucci signed onto the UN LGBT Business Conduct Standards where Gucci pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies. The company uses its corporate reputation and funds to support many ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression including the LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter movements. Gucci will cover all travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state abortions. Gucci does not explicitly protect against viewpoint discrimination or make grants to religious charities. For these reasons, Gucci 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

Gucci has not publicly terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs. Gucci signed onto the UN LGBT Business Conduct Standards where it pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). Gucci hosts training for all employees regarding diversity and inclusion topics including gender diversity and LGBTQ training (2).

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

Gucci has not published its charitable giving policy. However, Gucci Equilibrium, Gucci’s charitable giving foundation, published a report of its giving that did not include religious organizations (1). Its goals are centered around gender equality and environmental aid (2). Gucci does not actively discriminate against religious nonprofits.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gucci is an equal-opportunity employer. Its Code of Ethics states that it “encourages freedom of expression for employees” (1). However, it does not specify whether it protects against viewpoint discrimination.

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Gucci created Chime for Change and joined UN Women’s Generation Equality Action Coalitions in support of gender equality and LGBTQ equality (1)(2). In 2021, Gucci started using gender expansion language to allow employees to self-identify their gender (3). In 2021, Gucci also launched a diversity and inclusion awareness program (4). Gucci created a gender-fluid collection in support of the LGBTQ movement (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Gucci donates to many LGBTQ organizations and organizations supporting abortion access through Chime for Change (1). Gucci will cover all travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state abortions (2). Gucci pledged to fight racism through its donations to organizations including Campaign Zero and Know Your Rights Camp (3). Gucci runs a separate charitable giving campaign for “Changemakers” whereby “the fund provides preference to organizations led by diverse leaders. Gucci Changemakers will assist applicants focused on critical social impact areas, including social justice and equity, arts and culture; health equity and wellness; and education. In addition, we highly encourage organizations focusing on reducing gun violence, increasing access to voting, and supporting individuals with disabilities to apply” (4).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Gucci does not operate a PAC and published a statement in its Code of Ethics prohibiting political donations (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 27, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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