Inspire Brands

Arby's, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baskin-Robbins
Georgia
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Some Inspire Brands subsidiaries vet vendors according to LGBTQ policies and do not provide their employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination, but have not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. These companies cover the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for their employees and their employees children. Inspire Brands implemented unconscious bias trainings for employees. Dunkin' has launched a Pride-themed merchandise collection and consistently makes donations to LGBTQ organizations, though these organizations are primarily focused on providing necessary services to at-risk youth. However, it does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving and has not used its PAC contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Inspire Brands 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

Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Among other requirements, this indicates that the two subsidiaries vet suppliers according to their LGBTQ policies (1). Inspire Brands has begun to implement ESG into all of its business practices (2). Inspire Brands has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Inspire Brands and its subsidiaries focus their charitable giving on childhood hunger, youth leadership, and career readiness, and there is no written policy discriminating against faith-based organizations (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Inspire Brands does not have written policy to 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

Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robins have a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the companies cover the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). The company Inspire Brands has integrated ESG into its business practices, including unconscious bias training (3)(4). Dunkin’ launched a line of Pride-themed merchandise (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Dunkin’ created Pride Month gift cards that allow customers to donate to LGBTQ organizations when purchasing the Pride Month gift card (1). Dunkin’ Brands Foundation donated $30,000 to LGBTQ organizations, though the organizations are primarily focused on providing services such as food, education, and housing to at-risk youth (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Inspire Brands and Dunkin’ have both used their separate PAC’s to donate in a bipartisan manner consistent with its business interests (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
June 12, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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