McDonald’s

Illinois
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

McDonald's has canceled partnerships with a conservative nonprofit, American Legislative Exchange Commission (ALEC), due to pressure from progressive groups. McDonald's vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies, is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, 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. McDonald's has donated to the National Urban League (NUL), supported the Equality Act, and opposed state-level election security laws. For these reasons, McDonald'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

In 2012, McDonald’s canceled its partnership with the conservative nonprofit ALEC after coming under pressure from progressive groups (1). McDonald’s received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (2). Among other requirements, this means McDonald’s vets suppliers according to LGBTQ policies. The company 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).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

McDonald’s is a corporate partner of the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and also operates its own scholarship funds (1)(2). These programs do not have any rules prohibiting collaboration with religious organizations (3). However, McDonald’s does offer an employee matching program which does not match gifts to religious organizations (4)(5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

McDonald’s does not protect 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

The company has tied executive bonuses to workplace diversity, withholding some bonuses if diversity quotas are not met (1). McDonald’s supports the Equality Act (2). McDonald’s is a member of the Civic Alliance, which opposes state election reform laws (3). CEO Chris Kempczinski is a member of the Business Roundtable, but has not supported ideological initiatives (4). McDonald’s features a page supporting LGBT causes on its corporate website which outlines its various events and partnerships with LGBT organizations (5).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

McDonald’s is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (1)(2)(3). The company pledged $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including the National Urban League (4)(5)(6). McDonald’s is a Bronze sponsor of Out and Equal (7). McDonald’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 (8)(9).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

McDonald’s announced that it would indefinitely halt PAC funding of all federal candidates (1). The McDonald’s Corporation Political Action Committee has since resumed spending without withholding funds from the election-objecting candidates (2). However, McDonald’s made a $5,000 donation to the Equality PAC in 2022 (3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 27, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/25/23SocialThe SOC Investment GroupAnnual Report on Lobbying ActivitiesAgainst49.80%
5/25/23EnvironmentalThe Human Society of the United StatesPoultry Welfare DisclosureAgainst38.10%
5/25/23SocialThe Shareholder CommonsAdoption of Antibiotics Policy (2 of 2)Against18.40%
5/25/23SocialJohn HarringtonAnnual Report on Global Political InfluenceAgainst18.10%
5/25/23SocialThe Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, TexasAdoption of Antibiotics Policy (1 of 2)Against16.30%
5/25/23SocialThe National Legal and Policy CenterReport on Efforts in Communist ChinaAgainst3.00%
5/25/23SocialThe National Legal and Policy CenterCivil Rights & Returns to Merit AuditAgainst2.40%
5/26/22SocialSOC Investment GroupReport on Third-Party Civil Rights AuditAgainst55.14%
5/26/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenSpecial Meetings - Reduce Ownership Req. to 10%Against43.05%
5/26/22EnvironmentalAs You SowReport on Efforts to Reduce Plastic UseAgainst41.52%
5/26/22SocialNational Legal and Policy CenterReport on Lobbying Payments and PolicyAgainst34.76%
5/26/22SocialThe Shareholder CommonsReport on Public-Health Costs of Antibiotic Use and Impact on Diversified ShareholdersAgainst13.19%
5/26/22SocialJohn HarringtonIssue Transparency Report on Global Public Policy and Political InfluenceAgainst12.56%
Generate Reports
Clear
Toast