Lowe’s Home Improvement

North Carolina
Real Estate

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Lowe's vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. The company offers critical race theory and signed the OneTen pledge to emphasize race in hiring. Lowe's is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and has donated to the Equality PAC. However, the company does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Lowe's 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

Lowe’s Home Improvement received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). However, Lowe’s has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious or political beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Lowe’s does not match employee charitable contributions but does encourage volunteerism in general (1). Its foundation’s charitable giving does not discriminate against religious organizations, in either direct grants or employee volunteering (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Lowe’s does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (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

Lowe’s advocated for critical race theory training, teaching employees to apologize for their inherent characteristics (1). Lowe’s also spoke out against HB2, the North Carolina “bathroom bill” passed by the state legislature (2). Lowe’s has signed the OneTen pledge to further emphasize race in hiring (3)(4). CEO Marvin Ellison is a member of the Business Roundtable, but has not supported ideological initiatives (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Lowe’s 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). Lowe’s is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (3). Some shareholders proposed that Lowe’s should start looking into the costs of providing abortion-related travel benefits to employees, though the company has not accepted the proposal (4). Lowe’s is a sponsor of Memphis Pride Fest (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Lowe’s has donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 28, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/26/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenIndependent Board ChairmanAgainst22.90%
5/27/22SocialArjuna CapitalReport on Median Gender/Racial Pay GapAgainst58.01%
5/27/22SocialInt'l Brotherhood of TeamstersReport on Risks from Company Vendors that Misclassify Emplyees as Independent ContractorsAgainst35.71%
5/27/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenProxy Access AmendmentsAgainst32.28%
5/27/22SocialEducational Foundation of AmericaReport on Risks of State Policies Restricting Reproductive Health CareAgainst32.21%
5/27/22SocialNational Center for Public Policy ResearchCivil Rights and Non-Discrimination AuditAgainst1.95%
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