Western Digital

SanDisk
California
Technology Hardware and Equipment

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Western Digital, a data storage company, vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees. However, it has not publicly terminated business relationships due to views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Western Digital discriminates against some religious organizations in its charitable giving and is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal. For these reasons, Western Digital 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

Western Digital has not publicly fired customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs. The company received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. Among other requirements, this means Western Digital has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (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

Western Digital’s charitable giving guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities. It supports organizations that “improve education, support hunger relief, as well as programs protecting the environment and our communities” (1). Western Digital no longer offers an employee gift-matching program (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Western Digital does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (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

Western Digital is an advocate for the Equality Act (1). Western Digital has posted a blog post to its website that celebrates LGBT causes (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Western Digital has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). Western Digital is a brass sponsor of Out & Equal (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Western Digital does not operate a PAC at this time (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
November 30, 2023

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