Publix
Risk Level:
Summary:
Publix does not have discriminatory policies and has refrained from supporting ideological agendas or organizations. The company has been widely accepting of different viewpoints and has stayed out of taking sides on political issues. However, Publix did settle a lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) after Publix did not accommodate an employee's request to wear dreadlocks, and he chose to quit before his first day. Publix has since amended its grooming policy to allow for religious exemptions, though the company never admitted wrongdoing in the suit. For these reasons, Publix receives a "Lower 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.
In 2021, Publix settled a lawsuit for requiring an employee to change his dreadlocks hairstyle to meet their grooming requirements (1). The suit was filed by the EEOC in 2017 for violating the employee’s right to a religious exemption or accommodation for Rastafarianism. As part of the suit, Publix must administer training on its nondiscrimination and religious accommodation policy to all human resource employees, managers and supervisors at the Nashville store where the incident occurred. Publix has relaxed their grooming standards since 2017 when the lawsuit was first filed.
Publix does not have discriminatory policies for working with clients or vendors.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Publix does not have religious or viewpoint protections for employees (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
There are no publicly known examples of Publix using its corporate reputation to advance an ideological or political agenda.
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Publix has not donated to ideological causes or organizations hostile to freedom of speech.
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Publix has a history of regularly donating in a bipartisan business-focused manner.
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 30, 2022
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