
Simon & Schuster
Risk Level:
Summary:
Simon & Schuster made national news when it announced it would cancel a book deal with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) over his comments surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The company does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression or discriminate against faith-based charities and organizations. However, there are no religious or viewpoint protections for employees. For these reasons, Simon & Schuster receives a "High Risk" rating. Note: Penguin Random House (parent company, Bertelsmann) made an offer to buy Simon & Schuster in late 2020. The sale from its current parent company, Paramount Global, is still pending approval during an ongoing Justice Department antitrust lawsuit.
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.
Simon & Schuster donates to various organizations, primarily those supporting literacy and the arts. The company does not discriminate against faith-based charities (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Simon & Schuster has not supported ideological causes or policies.
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Simon & Schuster does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1).
Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.
Simon & Schuster does not have a PAC. Its parent company, Paramount Global, has a history of bipartisan PAC giving. However, in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, Paramount donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2). In addition, its subsidiary and S&S owner, ViacomCBS, halted donations to election objectors (3). It has since resumed donations (4).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023
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