Kroger
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Kroger fired two Christian employees who requested not to wear the gay pride logo on their work aprons. Kroger 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. Kroger pledged $13 million to BLM and related causes and covers travel costs for employee abortions. Kroger uses its reputation and corporate dollars to fund LGBT causes and organizations. For these reasons, Kroger 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.
Kroger fired two Christian employees who opted not to wear the rainbow logo emblematic of LGBTQ pride (1). Kroger received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (2).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Kroger does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
The company has advocated for the Equality Act and told employees to do the same (1). Kroger has encouraged employees to support the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (2). Kroger partners with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (3). Kroger created a PRIDE month collection and uses its PRIDE Associate Resource Group to create an LGBTQ allyship guide (4). Harris Teeter and Kroger partner with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (5). Harris Teeter created a PRIDE month collection with several suppliers “to inform, educate and uplift both the LGBTQ community and potential future allies” (6).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Kroger has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). Kroger funds the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and enables community donations to Planned Parenthood (3)(4). Kroger also announced it would fund travel expenses for its employees to get an abortion (5). Kroger pledged $13 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (6)(7)(8). Harris Teeter’s supplier-driven Pride collection included an offering of limited-edition Vizzy hard seltzer produced in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (9).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/22/23 | Social | Arjuna Capital | Report on Racial and Gender Pay Gaps | Against | 51.60% |
| 6/22/23 | Environmental | As You Sow | Recyclability of Packaging | Against | 31.60% |
| 6/22/23 | Social | Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | Report on Public Health Costs from Sale of Tobacco Products | Against | 12.60% |
| 6/22/23 | Social | Louis B. and Diana R. Eichold Trust | Listing of Charitable Contributions $10,000 or More | Against | 6.60% |
| 6/22/23 | Governance | National Center for Public Policy Research | Report on EEO Policy Risks | Against | 1.90% |
| 6/23/22 | Environmental | As You Sow | Report on Efforts to Reduce Plastic Use | Against | 38.37% |
| 6/23/22 | Environmental | Friends Fiduciary Corp. | Report on Efforts to Eliminate HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) in Refrigeration and Reduce GHG Emissions | Against | 35.40% |
| 6/23/22 | Social | Sisters of the Presentation of BVM | Report on Risks to Buisness Due to Increased Labor Market Pressure | Against | 29.53% |
| 6/23/22 | Social | Domini Impact Investments | Report on Human Rights and Protection of Farmworkers | Against | 20.85% |