Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), which is an education and learning technology company, has published several educational books intended for classroom use that are banned in some public schools because of their ideological content. HMH hosted company-wide unconscious bias training, has a DE&I content pledge, and promotes and publishes books on Black Trans-Genderism. HMH promotes DE&I in the classroom and encourages teachers to use LGBTQ learning material. HMH has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. HMH signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge and signed the HRC's Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ legislation. For these reasons, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt receives a High Risk rating.
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.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) received a 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Among other requirements, this indicates the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). HMH has a Content Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Review Panel that “evaluates and makes recommendations for HMH content and curriculum” (3). Certain HMH books were banned from public school classrooms in the state of Florida for containing elements of critical race theory, social justice, or social emotional learning (4)(5)(6).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
HMH donates to various educational charities, makes in-kind book contributions, and has employee volunteering programs (1)(2). It is unclear if any of these programs discriminate against religious charities or schools, however the program does pledge to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (3).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
HMH does not protect viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Certain HMH books were banned from public school classrooms in the state of Florida for containing elements of critical race theory, social justice, or social emotional learning (1). HMH signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge and signed the HRC’s Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ Legislation, which denounced various state laws designed to protect girls’ sports and similar laws (2)(3). HMH hosted company-wide unconscious bias training and has a DE&I content pledge that strives “for equitable, nonbiased, and sensitive treatment and representation for all individuals” (4). HMH uses their blog to promote DE&I content with schools, calling for the “importance of Diversity in Books” and promotes and publishes books that teach on Black Trans-Genderism (5)(6)(7). HMH suggests that teachers promote DE&I in the classroom and to consider the LGBTQ content when choosing material (8).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
HMH donated 50,000 books by Black authors to various social justice nonprofits as part of its efforts to become an antiracist organization (1). HMH has not donated to ideological groups.
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
HMH does not operate a PAC, but lobbies in a manner consistent with its business interests (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023
Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer