Macy’s

Bluemercury, Bloomingdales
New York
Retailing

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Macy's has fired multiple employees over disputes involving their religious beliefs and faced lawsuits for these terminations. Macy's 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. In addition to donating to Planned Parenthood in 2016, the company now funds employee travel for out-of-state abortions. Macy's frequently uses its reputation and corporate dollars to promote LGBTQ issues and organizations. Macy's has raised $5 million for The Trevor Project and is a platinum partner of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Macy's is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. 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 has fired multiple employees who expressed their religious beliefs when confronting its policy of letting transgender persons use the fitting room of their choice (1)(2). 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 (3). Another lawsuit was filed in California after an employee was fired for observing the Sabbath (4). 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 (5)(6). Macy’s also claimed to drop then-presidential candidate Donald Trump as a vendor in 2015 (7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Macy’s does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. It “[focuses] on empowering youth to create a brighter future through education, mentoring, mental health, emotional wellbeing, and environmental stewardship” (1).

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 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). CEO Jeffrey Gennette signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (4)(5). Macy’s subsidiary, Bloomingdale’s, has created a collection of “self-affirming t-shirts,” and has joined the 15% Pledge alongside its parent company (6)(7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Macy’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). Macy’s is a platinum corporate partner of the HRC, the National Urban League, and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (3)(4)(5). Macy’s partners with the progressive-aligned nonprofit Rock the Vote and the National Center for Transgender Equality (6). Macy’s undermines state laws by funding employee travel to get an abortion out of state (7). Each June, Macy’s raises funds for the LGBTQ advocacy group The Trevor Project and has raised over $5 million since 2019 (8)(9). Macy’s signed the Fifteen Percent Pledge and “committed to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands” (10)(11).

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).

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

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