Omnicom Group

New York
Media and Entertainment

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Omnicom Group, which is a marketing communications company, 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 allegedly discriminated against a former employee based on his sexual orientation. However, the company has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. Omnicom Group covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children. The company partners with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), supports unconscious bias training, and funds Black Lives Matter (BLM). Omnicom's CEO John Wren is a signatory to CEOs For Gun Safety. However, the company does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Omnicom Group 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

Omnicom Group received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1)(2). Omnicom Group 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 allegedly sexually discriminated against a former employee in 2017 based on his sexual orientation (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Omnicom Group does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Omnicom Group does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Omnicom Group requires unconscious bias training for employees and partners with an advocacy group called “sparks & honey,” which compiles a list of “anti-racist resources” and donates to a wide variety of organizations addressing racial justice, including BLM (1). The company’s CEO John Wren is a signatory to CEOs For Gun Safety (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Omnicom Group 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 is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (3)(4)(5). The company partners with GLAAD, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group (6).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Omnicom Group does not operate a PAC at this time (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 28, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
5/2/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenIndependent Board ChairAgainst29.40%
5/3/22SocialJohn CheveddenReport on Political Contributions and ExpendituresAgainst29.31%
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