Penguin Random House
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Penguin Random House canceled a contract with an author due to a lack of diversity in his historical book. The company does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination. Penguin Random House provides "antiracism" training for employees and hosted a company-wide book discussion based upon the writings of the leftist author Ibram X. Kendi. However, it does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving and has not used its corporate dollars for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Penguin Random House receives a High Risk rating.
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.
Penguin Random House notably canceled a book contract with historian Richard Cohen in 2021 for “not highlighting enough black figures.” Cohen made significant edits to include more of such figures, but the contract was still canceled (1)(2). Nonetheless, the company claims to take a stand against book banning (3). Penguin Random House does have a written policy requiring suppliers to have pro-LGBTQ policies (4).
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Penguin Random House does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. The company limits its charitable giving to book and audiobook donations to various nonprofits (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Penguin Random House does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Penguin Random House has antiracism training for employees and hosted its first-ever “company-wide read,” which was Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to be an Antiracist” (1). After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Penguin Random House “prepared a book list that includes titles on the history of abortion rights and the people who fought for them” (2). Penguin Random House with PEN America filed a lawsuit against Florida School District for its ban on books regarding “race, racism, and LGBT identities” (3).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Penguin Random House does not use corporate funds to advance leftist ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Penguin Random House does operate a PAC at this time (1).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 31, 2023
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