Volkswagen

Automobiles and Components

Risk Level:

Rating - Clear
Lower Risk

Summary:

Volkswagen has not publicly fired employees due to religious or political beliefs and does not advocate for ideological policies. Whistleblowers have alleged that the company mandates gender and sexuality training for its employees. However, the company does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression and protects employees from both religious and viewpoint discrimination. For these reasons, Volkswagen receives a "Lower 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

Volkswagen received a score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. While they do not have a perfect score, the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). Volkswagen has not publicly fired employees or canceled contracts for 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

Volkswagen matches employee donations to “the organization of their choice” without ideological prejudice (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen protects employees from both religious and 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

Whistleblowers allege that Volkswagen pushed mandatory “Gender and Sexuality” training on employees (1). It has not externally promoted ideological causes or used its corporate reputation to advocate for policy.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Volkswagen does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Volkswagen does not have an active PAC.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 28, 2022

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