Merck & Co.

New Jersey
Health Care Equipment and Services

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Merck's board and CEO actively use its corporate image to support ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression. Although there are no reported cases of firing employees for their beliefs, Merck lacks viewpoint protections. The company also will not work with vendors who lack LGBTQ nondiscrimination policies. Merck funds groups like Planned Parenthood with its corporate dollars and has made a donation to the Equality PAC. 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 has not publicly terminated business relationships due to religious beliefs or political views. The company 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).

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 permit donations to religious organizations as long as the donation is “designated toward a program focused on the betterment of the community in general” (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 signed letters supporting the Equality Act and opposing state-level elections security bills (1)(2)(3).

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).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Merck donates in a bipartisan manner (1). Merck did make a donation to the Equality PAC (2)(3).

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

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Generate Reports
Clear
Toast