8×8 - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

8×8 is Medium Risk.

8×8 Inc. is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company occasionally embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues at times. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	Medium Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	Lower Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	Lower Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled 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:

Medium

Rationale:

8×8 integrates ESG into its business practices. From its Governance and Nominating Committee Charter: “The Committee shall, subject to determinations made by the Board, be responsible for monitoring, reviewing and recommending corporate governance practices, including the following matters:… Identifying and evaluating trends, best practices and developments in corporate governance, including ESG matters, which may include sustainability, energy and natural resources conservation, human rights and diversity and inclusion” However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

8×8 does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

8×8 requires its employees to take unconscious bias training (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its Corporate Governance Principles: “The Board, with input from the Governance and Nominating Committee, is responsible for periodically determining the appropriate skills, perspectives, experiences and characteristics required of Board candidates, taking into account the Company’s needs and the current composition of the Board. Attributes, criteria and qualifications considered by the Board include:… diversity (including not just respect to race and gender, but also with respect to viewpoints, experiences, backgrounds, skills and other qualities and attributes)” (2). 8×8 does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (3).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

8×8 supports DEI within its business practices, hosting a DEI council (1). 8×8 UK is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (2). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its Our Culture of Belonging page: “We know we’re not perfect. But we’re committed—to listening, learning, and building a culture shaped by fairness, empathy, and equity” (3). 8×8 supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2025 Proxy Statement: “we recognize the importance of ESG initiatives for our employees, customers, and the investment community at large. We continue to adapt our governance framework to align with best practices and provide Board level oversight on emerging issues and opportunities, including climate change and other environmental and social impact initiatives” (4).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

8×8 has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

8×8 does not operate a PAC at this time and has not used its lobbying for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).