Pfizer Inc.
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
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.
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.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Pfizer will not match employee donations to churches or religious organizations (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Pfizer does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
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).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
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
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Voting History
| Date | ESG Category | Proponent | Summary of Resolution | Mgmt Rec | Total Vote % in Favor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/27/23 | Governance | Kenneth Steiner | Independent Board Chair | Against | 34.52% |
| 4/27/23 | Social | Trinity Health | Report on Impact of Extended Patent Exclusivities on Product Access | Against | 29.67% |
| 4/27/23 | Governance | Tara Health Foundation | Report on Congruency of Political Contributions | Against | 13.88% |
| 4/27/23 | Social | Oxfam America | Feasibility Report for Transfer of Intellectual Properties to Potential COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers | Against | 11.99% |
| 4/27/23 | Governance | John Chevedden | Ratification of Termination Pay | Against | 9.90% |
| 4/28/22 | Governance | Sisters of St. Francis | Report on Board Oversight of Risks Related to Anticompetitive Practices | Against | 30.45% |
| 4/28/22 | Governance | John Chevedden | Amend Proxy Access Right | Against | 28.98% |
| 4/28/22 | Social | Oxfam America, Inc. | Report on Feasibility of Technology Transfer to Boost COVID-19 Vaccine Production | Against | 27.37% |
| 4/28/22 | Social | National Center for Public Policy Research | Report on Congruency of Political Election Expenditures with Company Values and Policies | Against | 10.41% |
| 4/28/22 | Social | The Shareholder Commons | Report on Public Health Costs of Limited Sharing of Vaccine Technology | Against | 8.71% |