Databricks - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Databricks is Medium Risk.

Databricks is Medium Risk. The company often yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. Databricks 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	No Data
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	High Risk
Political Actions	No Data

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:

Databricks promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Third Party Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (1)(2). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (3).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Databricks does not publish charitable giving guidelines (1).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Databricks offers inclusion training to its employees (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring. From its Diversity and Inclusion page: “Unwavering in our commitment to hire top talent, we know that teams made up of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives ultimately fuel innovation. Inclusive hiring is about ensuring all candidates have equal opportunities. We strive to build diverse global teams through an inclusive hiring experience” (2). Databricks protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (3)(4).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Databricks supports DEI within its business practices, employing a DEI Team (1). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its Diversity and Inclusion page: “Inclusion, diversity and equity are essential to unlocking the full potential of data and AI. At Databricks, we’re cultivating an environment where all Bricksters can bring their unique selves and are empowered to do the best work of their careers” (2). Databricks supports ESG within its business practices. From its Powering a Better Future With ESG Data and Analytics article: “To showcase some of the amazing ways data and AI are driving ESG initiatives, we’ll be hosting a global executive sustainability forum in early March. Featuring some of the foremost ESG thought leaders and innovators, we’ll explore the forces driving this shift in corporate responsibility and how global organizations are leveraging data and AI to make smarter investments towards a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable future” (3)(4).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Databricks sponsored Amsterdam (LGBTQ) Pride 2019 (1)(2). Databricks hosted a Spark + AI Summit where they partnered with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and Center for Policing Equity, raising over $100,000 “to continue the fight against social and racial injustice” (3). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (4).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Databricks does not operate a PAC or report on its lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).