Lowe’s Home Improvement
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lowe’s does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 28, 2023
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/26/23 | Governance | John Chevedden | Independent Board Chairman | Against | 22.90% |
| 5/27/22 | Social | Arjuna Capital | Report on Median Gender/Racial Pay Gap | Against | 58.01% |
| 5/27/22 | Social | Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters | Report on Risks from Company Vendors that Misclassify Emplyees as Independent Contractors | Against | 35.71% |
| 5/27/22 | Governance | John Chevedden | Proxy Access Amendments | Against | 32.28% |
| 5/27/22 | Social | Educational Foundation of America | Report on Risks of State Policies Restricting Reproductive Health Care | Against | 32.21% |
| 5/27/22 | Social | National Center for Public Policy Research | Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Audit | Against | 1.95% |