Qualcomm

California
Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Qualcomm discriminates against religious groups in its charitable giving and does not have viewpoint protections for employees. However, Qualcomm has not publicly fired employees or vendors for their religious or political beliefs. Qualcomm donates to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood, has supported the Equality Act and denounced the NC bathroom bill. Qualcomm also pledges to vet vendors for their LGBTQ policies. For these reasons, Qualcomm 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

Qualcomm received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means that Qualcomm has pledged to vet vendors for pro-LGBTQ policies (1). There are no known cases of employees being fired for religious or political beliefs.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Qualcomm will not donate to faith-based organizations “unless such organization’s programs are broadly promoted (i.e., not limited to persons of any particular faith) and none of its beneficiaries are encouraged or required to learn about, adhere, or convert to any religious or other faith based doctrine” (1). Faith-based schools are also not eligible for donations “unless the school accepts students from all religious and non-religious backgrounds and the students are not required to adhere to or convert to any religious or other faith-based doctrine.” Denominational organizations are also ineligible for gift-matching purposes, despite the company enabling donations to ideological organizations. Organizations that do not protect against discrimination for gender identity and/or expression and sexuality orientation are also ineligible for charitable funds.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Qualcomm 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

Qualcomm has signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). Qualcomm had invited notable critical race theorist Ibram X. Kendi to speak to employees on issues of race (2). In 2016, the company spoke out against a North Carolina legislation, HB2, that would require people to use the bathroom of their biological gender (3)(4).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Qualcomm has pledged $1.5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes, including the ACLU (1)(2). Qualcomm has sponsored local Planned Parenthood facilities (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Qualcomm has not used its PAC giving for ideological purposes; it donates in a bipartisan manner (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 29, 2023

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