The Hershey Company (Hershey’s)

Pennsylvania
Food Beverage and Tobacco

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

The Hershey Company has allegedly terminated employees due to their vaccination status, though there are no other cases of the company terminating business relationships due to political or religious differences. Hershey's funds the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and supports the Equality Act. The company does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. Hershey's received criticism for featuring a transgender as part of its celebration of International Women's Day. For these reasons, The Hershey Company receives a High 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

In February 2022, the Hershey Company allegedly fired employees that were unvaccinated against COVID-19 (1). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the HRC. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Hershey Company will not donate to “churches or religious organizations, including seminaries, Bible colleges, and theological institutions.” However, regarding donations to religious charities, the company notes “charitable requests that serve to further a larger general charitable purpose would be considered eligible” (1). Hershey matches employee donations to all charities and does not discriminate against faith-based charities (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Hershey Company does not protect 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

The Hershey Company signed an open letter in support of the Equality Act (1). The company requires all employees to take unconscious bias trainings two times per year (2). On International Women’s Day, Hershey’s featured a trans woman in its promotion, drawing criticism (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Hershey Company is a Bronze Partner of the HRC (1). Hershey has also pledged $250,000 to the Black Lives Matter movement and related causes (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Hershey Company has used its PAC in a bipartisan, business-centered manner free from ideological prejudice (1)(2)(3).

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

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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