Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)

Virginia
Capital Goods

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

In September 2020, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) fired an employee for wearing a "Trump 2020" hat prior to a work meeting under the company's rules against "campaigning" for politicians. The employee is said to have worn similar apparel prior to previous meetings for a lengthy part of his career at HII. HII vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. HII is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. For these reasons, HII receives a "High 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

HII fired an employee from its Newport News Shipbuilding division in September 2020 after the employee refused to take off a “Trump 2020” ballcap during a meeting at the beginning of the work day (1)(2). The company says the worker was fired for failing to comply with its policy against political campaigning. The employee claims he had worn a Trump hat on the way to work before he changed into his hard hat for the job for four years and that others had worn political gear while he had worked there. HII has received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index. Among other commitments, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

HII does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. Its charitable works seeks to “help those in need, to improve educational outcomes in underserved communities, and to promote a healthy environment” (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

HII does not protect its 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

Former HII CEO Mike Petters signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

HII’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

HII has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 23, 2023

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