H&M

Sweden
Retailing

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

H&M has not terminated business relationships for any reason, but it does vet suppliers according to its LGBTQ policies. H&M has used corporate dollars to support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Color of Change and has signed onto letters opposing Florida's Stop Woke Act and various "anti-LGBTQ" legislation. However, the company protects employees from viewpoint discrimination. For these reasons, H&M 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

H&M has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious or political beliefs. H&M has a policy requiring suppliers to have LGBTQ protections for employees, although it also requires protections for political viewpoints (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

H&M’s foundation does not have restrictions on donations to faith-based charities in line with its charitable goals (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

H&M protects employees from religious and viewpoint (political opinion) 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

H&M opposed Florida’s HB7 (“Stop Woke Act”), which aims to prevent the proliferation of critical race theory in public education (1). H&M signed onto a letter from the Human Rights Campaign opposing “anti-LGBTQ” legislation, which includes legislation protecting female sports (2). H&M promoted unfettered abortion access as part of its commitment to “equal opportunity in the workplace” (3)(4). H&M also opposed Florida’s state law to prevent teaching about sexuality and gender identity in public school classrooms for ages K-3rd grade (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

H&M donated $500,000 to various nonprofits supporting racial justice, which included the ACLU and Color of Change (1)(2). The company has donated to a wide array of LGBTQ organizations (3)(4). H&M also covers expenses for employees’ out-of-state abortions in the U.S. (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

H&M does not have a PAC and does not make donations to political parties or political candidates (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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