Mars Inc.
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Mars Inc. vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not protect its employees against viewpoint discrimination. The company is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and covers the cost of "medically necessary gender transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Mars has lobbied to support the Equality Act and a senior executive at Mars has issued an op-ed opposing a minimum age for gender transition surgeries. Mars supports and funds multiple LGBTQ causes and organizations. Mars' brands have promoted BLM and related organizations and causes. For these reasons, Mars 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.
Mars received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). Mars is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (3)(4)(5). The company requires suppliers not discriminate based on sexual orientation (6).
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.
Mars does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Mars has signed open letters opposing “bathroom bills” and a senior executive co-authored an op-ed opposing a minimum age for gender transition surgeries (1)(2). The company supports the Equality Act and opposes bans on transgender athletes in female sports (3)(4). Mars opposed Florida’s law that prevents public schools from teaching young kids about gender and sexuality (5). The companies Twitter account also criticized then-President Trump’s views on immigration (6). M&M released a new “female-only” wrapper featuring only “female” M&M characters including new lesbian M&Ms and a “plus-size” character to represent body positivity (7). Skittles has promoted LBGTQ and BLM messaging and causes through its promotions, products, and fundraisers (8). CEO Poul Weihrauch is a member of the Business Roundtable (9). America First Legal filed a complaint against Mars, Inc. with the EEOC for discriminatory hiring practices (10)(11).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Mars 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). Mars is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (3)(4)(5). The company has funded GLAAD and other LGBTQ advocacy groups (6). Mars is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (7)(8). Kind bars, a subsidiary of Mars, has a partnership with popular transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and Skittles has promoted LBGTQ and BLM messaging and causes through its promotions, products, and fundraisers (9)(10)(11).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 10, 2023
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