Kering

Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent
France
Consumer Durables and Apparel, Household and Personal Products

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Kering is a luxury goods corporation headquartered in Paris, France. Kering owns a variety of multinational luxury brands, including Gucci, Balenciaga, and Saint-Laurent. Kering vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of employees' abortion-related travel expenses and of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. However, Kering and its subsidiaries advocate for progressive ideological policies and causes in the United States and abroad. Kering and its brands have unilaterally criticized the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The companies have taken stances on other issues, including gun control, the refugee crisis, and racial justice, including funding policy-driven organizations. For these reasons, Kering 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

Kering Americas received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (1). Among other requirements, this means Kering pledges to vet its vendors for LGBTQ policies. However, the company 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

The Kering Foundation focuses on preventing violence against women and supporting survivors of abuse (1). The foundation does not discriminate against religious organizations. The Gucci Changemakers North America Impact Fund does not actively discriminate against religious nonprofits (2).  

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Kering protects its employees against 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

Kering issued a public statement criticizing the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade (1). Chime for Change, a partnership between Kering subsidiary Gucci and the Kering Foundation, hired a gun control activist, Sarah Chadwick, as a spokesperson (2). Chime for Change includes abortion access as a centerpiece of its advocacy work, both in the United States and abroad (3). Kering has embraced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, requiring diversity and inclusion training for executives across all its host countries (4). Gucci joined the UN Women’s Generation Equality Action Coalitions in support of gender equality and LGBTQ equality (5)(6). In 2021, Gucci started using gender expansion language to allow employees to self-identify their gender (7). Gucci created a gender-fluid collection in support of LGBTQ identities (8). Balenciaga featured an artist’s line of clothing portraying explicit content of children (9).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Kering brand Gucci stated that it would expand its medical benefits to cover abortion-related travel expenses for employees and partner with pro-abortion organizations through its charitable giving program (1). Balenciaga, another Kering subsidiary, made a similar statement (2). Kering and its subsidiaries have also funded Campaign Zero and the Know Your Rights Camp, a group run by Colin Kaepernick (3)(4). Gucci also pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives gun control campaign (5). 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” (6). Kering brand Balenciaga committed to an annual donation to the NAACP following George Floyd’s death (7)(8). 

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Kering does not operate a PAC at this time (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

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