Simon & Schuster - 1792 Exchange

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

High Risk

Summary:

Simon & Schuster canceled a book deal with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) over his comments surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The company does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination but does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. It has not used its reputation or corporate dollars for ideological purposes. 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, was blocked by the Justice Department in a antitrust lawsuit. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is now trying to buy Simon & Schuster.

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

Despite its statement against book banning and censorship, Simon & Schuster publicly canceled a book deal with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in January 2021, citing his objection to the 2020 presidential election results (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. The company donates to various organizations, primarily those supporting literacy and the arts (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level

Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not use its corporate image to involve itself in politics (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not use corporate funds to advance leftist ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Simon & Schuster’s parent company, Paramount Global, has donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2)(3).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 14, 2023

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