Shake Shack scored a 100 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, the company increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company provides a benefits package for employees which covers transgender medical procedures for covered employees and dependents, including children. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in employee recruitment, vendor selection, marketing, and philanthropic support. Shake Shack forces employees to undergo multiple ideological trainings and uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. America First Legal filed a letter with the EEOC requesting a civil rights investigation into Shake Shack over discriminatory practices in employment. Shake Shack appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring and leadership composition through the establishment of racial quotas. Shake Shack is a Gold partner of PFLAG, an LGBTQ+ activist group that promotes books for children with sexually explicit and gender fluid content and advocates against laws that inform parents of their child’s gender dysphoria or prevent unapproved transgender medical treatments for minors. Shake Shack has donated to The Trevor Project, Seattle Pride, and the Equal Justice Initiative. For these reasons, Shake Shack Inc. receives a High Risk rating.