Pfizer Inc.

Washington D.C.
Pharmaceuticals Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Pfizer vets vendors according to LGBTQ 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. Pfizer has used its political contributions to advance ideological causes, groups, and policies. Pfizer is a platinum partner of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), funds Planned Parenthood, and multiple LGBTQ organizations. Pfizer supports the Equality Act and its leadership has been outspoken on topics such as transgender activism. Pfizer's CEO is a signatory of the Business Roundtable's 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism. Pfizer partially funds HRC's Healthcare Equality Index. For these reasons, Pfizer 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

Pfizer received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means Pfizer has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). Pfizer integrates ESG into all of its business practices (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Pfizer 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

Pfizer 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

Pfizer is a member of the Business Coalition for the Equality Act and signed the Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ legislation (1)(2). Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla initially condemned Georgia’s voting integrity law but later appeared to retract his position (3). Bourla is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders and customers (4)(5). Pfizer opposed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, which prohibits teaching gender identity and sexual orientation in schools to kids in K-3rd grade (6). Pfizer committed to achieving a goal of net-zero emissions by 2040 (7).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Pfizer is a platinum partner of the HRC and offers an employee matching gift program to Planned Parenthood (1)(2). Pfizer pledged over $7 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (3). Pfizer funds in part the HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index, which ranks healthcare providers for their LGBTQ-related care, including gender hormone therapy for children under 18 (4). Pfizer is a bronze sponsor of Out & Equal and a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (5)(6). Pfizer 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 (7)(8).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Pfizer used to donate in a bipartisan manner consistent with its business interests, but it weaponized its PAC by cutting off donations to the GOP (1)(2)(3). Pfizer’s PAC has resumed operations but has donated to ideological organizations including the Equality PAC (4)(5). Pfizer lobbies in a manner consistent with its business interests (6).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 30, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
4/27/23GovernanceKenneth SteinerIndependent Board ChairAgainst34.52%
4/27/23SocialTrinity HealthReport on Impact of Extended Patent Exclusivities on Product AccessAgainst29.67%
4/27/23GovernanceTara Health FoundationReport on Congruency of Political ContributionsAgainst13.88%
4/27/23SocialOxfam AmericaFeasibility Report for Transfer of Intellectual Properties to Potential COVID-19 vaccine manufacturersAgainst11.99%
4/27/23GovernanceJohn CheveddenRatification of Termination PayAgainst9.90%
4/28/22GovernanceSisters of St. FrancisReport on Board Oversight of Risks Related to Anticompetitive PracticesAgainst30.45%
4/28/22GovernanceJohn CheveddenAmend Proxy Access RightAgainst28.98%
4/28/22SocialOxfam America, Inc.Report on Feasibility of Technology Transfer to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine ProductionAgainst27.37%
4/28/22SocialNational Center for Public Policy ResearchReport on Congruency of Political Election Expenditures with Company Values and PoliciesAgainst10.41%
4/28/22SocialThe Shareholder CommonsReport on Public Health Costs of Limited Sharing of Vaccine TechnologyAgainst8.71%
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