Volkswagen
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Volkswagen vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. Volkswagen is part of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and it has been alleged that the company mandates gender and sexuality training for its employees. Volkswagen and Audi have engaged in public LGBTQ advocacy and Volkswagen is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal. However, the company protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination and does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving. For these reasons, Volkswagen receives a Medium Risk rating.
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.
Volkswagen received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other commitments, the company has a written policy pledging to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1)(2). Volkswagen is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (3)(4)(5). Volkswagen integrates ESG policies into all its business strategies (6). Volkswagen has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Volkswagen does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (1).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Volkswagen protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Volkswagen pushed mandatory “Gender and Sexuality” training on its employees (1). Volkswagen subsidiary Audi has committed to public advocacy and engagement with LGBTQ causes, by displaying a Pride flag in an ad to mark European Diversity Month in 2022 and participating in the Pride event Christopher Street Day in Ingolstadt (2)(3)(4). Audi is a member of the Charta der Viefalt (German Diversity Charter) and the UnternehmensForum, which both engage in DEI advocacy (5). As part of its Pride celebrations, US Soccer partnered with Volkswagen to support The You Can Play Project (6).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
Volkswagen’s HRC CEI profile indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees (1)(2). Volkswagen is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media and a brass sponsor of Out & Equal (3)(4)(5)(6). Volkswagen Ireland is a Platinum sponsor of the Dublin Pride Parade (7). The Audi Environmental Foundation supports One Young World, which engages in ESG and DEI advocacy (8)(9).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 8, 2023
Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer