Staples - 1792 Exchange

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Medium Risk

Summary:

Staples, a retailer of office supplies, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies, gives preference to diverse suppliers, and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination, but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and educates its employees on social justice. Otherwise, it has not used its reputation or corporate dollars for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Staples 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

Staples received a score of 95 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (1). Among other requirements, this means Staples vets suppliers according to LGBTQ policies. Staples has a Supplier Diversity Program by which the company gives preference to suppliers that are “at least 51% owned, controlled or operated by a diverse group,” including LGBTQ+, minority, and women-owned (2). Staples has not publicly terminated business relationships due to 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

Staples will donate to religious organizations if “they are engaged in a significant project which benefits a broad base of the community” (1). Staples has a grant program for employees suffering various hardships; the program does not discriminate (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Staples does not protect employees from viewpoint protections (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

Former CEO Sandy Douglas signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion (1). Staples regularly promotes “a bi-monthly employee-led social justice video series” (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Staples is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (1)(2). Otherwise, it has not used its corporate reputation to support ideological groups hostile toward freedom of expression (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

N/A

Rationale

Staples does not have an active PAC at this time (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
May 23, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Download PDF