Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Switzerland
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Novartis vets vendors according to LGBTQ/ESG policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children and alluded to paying for abortion travel for its U.S. employees. Novartis funds multiple LGBTQ organizations and supports the Equality Act. However, the company has not used its PAC contributions for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Novartis receives a Medium 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

Novartis received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). Novartis’s Environmental Sustainability Criteria for Suppliers requires that each “Supplier shall ensure that all products and/or services procured by Novartis should be carbon neutral by 2030” (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Novartis will not match employee donations to churches or religious organizations (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Novartis does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (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

Novartis’s PGLE membership reflects its commitment to “operationalize” company coverage of transgender surgery and treatment, the vetting of business partners based on LGBTQ+ policies, and the financial support of LGBTQ organizations on a global level (1)(2)(3)(4). Novartis publishes “The Novartis in Society Integrated Report” to outline its ESG efforts” which includes its 2030 environmental sustainability strategy, the goal of Net Zero by 2040, and its signature on The Climate Pledge (5)(6)(7). Novartis joined the Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) that advocates for ESG to policymakers and is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act (8)(9).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Novartis 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). Novartis made a statement that it is “carefully evaluating” how the overturning of Roe v. Wade may impact its associates and that it would make abortions accessible to its employees (3). Novartis is a founding member of the PGLE, a Silver sponsor of Out and Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (4)(5)(6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Novartis has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes and lobbies in a manner consistent with its business interests (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 5, 2023

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