Petco

Texas
Food and Staples Retailing, Retailing

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Petco does not provide viewpoint protections for employees, and the company has integrated ESG into its business practices. Petco is a member of multiple DEI advocacy organizations, and the company has engaged in ideological legislative advocacy. Petco has embraced DEI, requiring unconscious bias training and pronouns on employee nametags. However, Petco has not publicly terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs. For these reasons, Petco 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

Petco has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs. Petco began diversity analysis of suppliers in 2020 (1). Petco integrates ESG into all of its business practices (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Petco does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. Petco’s charitable work focuses on “programs that promote the benefits of pet companionship for people, healthy environments for animals, and improving animal welfare through our Petco Love foundation” (1)(2)(3). Petco does not have an employee donation-matching program at this time (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Petco does not provide viewpoint protections for 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

Petco opposed Georgia’s voting integrity bill (1). Petco promotes LGBTQ causes, such as having a “Pride Shop” with LGBTQ-themed products, celebrating Pride Month, and incorporating preferred pronouns in email signatures and name badges (2)(3). Petco holds mandatory employee DEI training (4). Petco is a signatory of the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge (5). Petco is a founding member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition and is a member of RILA, which engage in ESG and DEI advocacy (6). Petco “actively seek[s] ways to promote and support external DEI opportunities,” such as by partnering with the Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing (7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Petco donates to The Trevor Project, which engages in LGBTQ advocacy (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Petco does not make PAC donations, but its lobbying practices have been bipartisan and business-focused (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
May 10, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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