Steelcase

Steelcase received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2025 Proxy Statement: “For fiscal year 2025, the strategic goal modifier was based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of driving progress across our broad set of short-term and long-term initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion globally” (3). Steelcase integrates DEI into its supply chain. From its Supplier Code of Conduct: “Suppliers are expected to have a comprehensive commitment throughout their organization to build a culture of inclusion of all backgrounds” (4). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (5).

Steelcase’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company likely uses Benevity as its charitable giving platform. Benevity vets charities according to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hate List, which includes mainstream libertarian, conservative, family, and religious advocacy organizations (3)(4)(5). Steelcase Foundation’s charitable giving and employee matching guidelines require that organizations abide by its nondiscrimination policy, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, thereby excluding some religious charities (6).

Steelcase’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2). The company’s CEO Sara Armbruster signed Catalyst’s Champions for Change pledge, indicating its support of DEI in its leadership composition through the establishment of gender and racial targets (3)(4). Steelcase appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain. From its 2024 Impact Report: the company “invest[s] 10% of addressable spend in the Americas with diverse suppliers” (5). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (6).

Steelcase’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company’s former CEO James Keane was a member of the Business Roundtable and signed the Business Roundtable’s 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders (3)(4). Steelcase’s former CEO Jim Keane signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (5)(6). The company signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (7). Steelcase publicly opposed Georgia’s 2021 election integrity bill among many other organizations in a New York Times full-page advertisement (8). Steelcase supports DEI within its business practices, employing a Vice President of DEI (9). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2024 Impact Report: ““Our strategic and systemic approach to fostering inclusion empowers and influences a culture where everyone can belong, learn and thrive” (10). Steelcase supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2025 Impact Report: “We understand the importance of all environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics for the wellbeing of people and the planet. To prioritize these topics, we periodically conduct comprehensive materiality assessments to prioritize areas where our business can make the most significant
impact” (11). The company is committed to net zero emissions by 2050 (12).

Steelcase’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). In 2024, Steelcase Foundation donated $130,000 to The Diatribe (3)(4). In 2023, the company’s Foundation donated $125,000 to The Diatribe and $30,000 to Planned Parenthood of Michigan (5). In 2022, Steelcase Foundation donated $55,000 to The Diatribe (6). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

Steelcase’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company does not operate a PAC at this time and has not used its lobbying for ideological purposes(3)(4)(5).