PVH

Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, True & Co.
New York
Consumer Durables and Apparel

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

PVH scored an 80 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI). By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, PVH increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children. PVH uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. The company does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. It has donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and other similar advocacy groups. PVH has also supported the Equality Act and advocated for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. However, the PVH Foundation does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its grant-making or donation-matching practices. For these reasons, PVH 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

In 2015, PVH ended its production and sale of the Trump-brand line of clothing due to Donald Trump’s statements regarding immigration policy during his campaign (1). However, PVH has been under new management since 2021. PVH vets suppliers for environmental standards, including emission reduction goals (2)(3). PVH has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. Its Code of Business Conduct requires vendors to include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policy (4).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The PVH Foundation does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations in its grant-making or donation-matching practices (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

PVH does not provide viewpoint protections for its 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

PVH’s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy (1)(2)(3). By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. PVH is a member of the HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act (4). PVH’s CEO signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (5). PVH is a consistent supporter of LGBTQ-related public advocacy, including ongoing partnerships with New York’s Pride March and the HRC (6)(7). PVH has also been a leader in advocating for the BLM movement in the fashion industry (8).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

PVH’s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology (1)(2)(3). By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The PVH Foundation made a $15,000 grant to GLSEN in 2019 (4). PVH subsidiary Calvin Klein made a one-time donation to the ACLU in 2020 (5). The PVH Foundation donated $100,000 to the National Urban League in 2020 (6). In the same 2020 donation push, PVH featured the ACLU, Color of Change, and the National Urban League among its featured racial justice charities for donation matching (7)(8). PVH also financially contributed to an HRC program to foster LGBTQ inclusion at historically black colleges in 2021 (9)(10).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

PVH’s HRC 2023 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives (1)(2)(3). By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. PVH does not operate a PAC or report on its lobbying at this time (4)(5)(6).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
February 6, 2024

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