Macy’s

New York
Retailing

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Macy's has fired multiple employees over disputes involving their religious beliefs and faced lawsuits for these terminations. It does not have viewpoint protections for employees. Macy's also dropped former President Trump as a vendor. Macy's has consistently advocated for the LGBTQ movement through its donations, advocacy, and policies. In addition to donating to Planned Parenthood in 2016, Macy's now funds employee travel for out-of-state abortions. For these reasons, Macy's receives a "High 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

Macy’s received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Among other requirements, this means Macy’s has pledged to vet vendors according to LGBTQ policies (1). Furthermore, Macy’s has fired multiple employees who expressed their religious beliefs when confronting its policy of letting transgender persons use the fitting room of their choice (2)(3). These employees did not refuse to comply with the company policy but rather stated their beliefs and objections; they were let go nonetheless. Religious discrimination lawsuits were later filed (4). Another lawsuit was filed in California after an employee was fired for observing the Sabbath (5). Macy’s also claimed to drop then-presidential candidate Donald Trump as a vendor in 2015 (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Across Macy’s many campaigns and grants, there are no public examples of restricting donations to religious organizations (1). Macy’s partners with churches and religious organizations for charitable purposes (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Macy’s does not 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

Macy’s has signed open letters supporting the Equality Act and promoting transgender participation in female sports (1)(2). Macy’s opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Macy’s is a Corporate Partner of the HRC and the National Urban League (1)(2). Macy’s partners with the progressive-aligned nonprofit Rock the Vote and the National Center for Transgender Equality (3). Macy’s undermines state laws by funding employee travel to get an abortion out of state (4). Each June, Macy’s raises funds for the LGBTQ advocacy group, The Trevor Project, in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Macy’s does not operate a PAC at this time (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023

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