Merck & Co.

New Jersey
Health Care Equipment and Services

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Merck 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, but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company indirectly funds Planned Parenthood and covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Merck pledged $20 million to BLM and related causes. The company discriminates against religious organizations in its charitable giving and supports and funds LGBTQ causes and organizations. For these reasons, Merck 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

Merck received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Merck has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). 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” (2)(3)(4). However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Merck will not permit donations to “religious organizations or groups whose activities are primarily sectarian in purpose” (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Merck 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

Merck 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). The company has signed letters supporting the Equality Act and opposing state-level elections security bills (3)(4)(5). CEO Robert Davis is a member of the Business Roundtable, but has not supported ideological initiatives (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Merck does both, directly and indirectly, fund Planned Parenthood through partnering with affiliate groups and organizations such as the Family Planning 2020 program (1)(2). Merck is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (3)(4)(5). The company has pledged over $20 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, though it is unclear which organizations received funding (6)(7). Merck is a copper sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (8)(9).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Merck donates in a bipartisan manner but has donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
July 4, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/23/23GovernanceKenneth SteinerIndependent Board ChairmanAgainst27.80%
5/23/23SocialOxfam America, Inc.Access to COVID-19 ProductsAgainst26.40%
5/23/23SocialThe Province of Saint Joseph of the Capuchin OrderPatents and AccessAgainst23.80%
5/23/23GovernanceBoston Common Asset ManagementIndirect Political SpendingAgainst6.20%
5/23/23SocialNational Legal and Policy CenterBusiness Operations in ChinaAgainst3.20%
5/23/23SocialThe National Center for Public Policy ResearchCongruency Report of Partnerships with Globalist OrganizationsAgainst1.00%
5/24/22SocialOxfam America, Inc.Report on Access to COVID-19 ProductsAgainst35.97%
5/24/22GovernanceKenneth SteinerRequire Independent Board ChairAgainst34.50%
5/24/22SocialNational Legal and Policy CenterReport on Lobbying Payments and PolicyAgainst16.09%
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