Syneos Health, Inc.

Former employees of Syneos Health sued the company for “wrongfully terminating individuals who sought religious and medical exemptions from the company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate” (1). Syneos Health received a score of 100 on the 2026 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 (2)(3)(4). The company 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 (5)(6). Syneos Health integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2024 Impact Report: “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles are embedded into every aspect of how
we operate, lead and grow” and from its Supplier Code of Conduct “Suppliers should operate in an environmentally responsible manner and
actively work to reduce water usage, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Where reasonable, suppliers should have systems in place to quantify environmental data as a result of their operations”(7).

Syneos Health’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). Syneos Health does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs (6).

Syneos Health’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training 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)(3). The company’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 (4)(5). Syneos Health requires its employees to take unconscious bias training (6). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment, hiring and supply chain . From its 2023 ESG Report: “Building an inclusive culture where every employee can thrive starts with promoting diversity in the hiring process. Our Talent Acquisition team embeds industry-leading DE&I practices, principles and processes into our candidate attraction approach” and from its Supplier Diversity Web Page: “Syneos Health remains committed to increasing and expanding diversity with our valued partners and suppliers”(7)(8). Syneos Health has a history of divisive corporate policies and practices. However, in 2024, the company removed DEI training and policies from its ESG Report. To date, the company has not publicly addressed these changes, leaving shareholders without clarity regarding the company’s reasoning or future direction (9). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (10).

Syneos Health’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially 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)(3). The company’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 (4)(5). Syneos Health’s former CEO, Michelle Keefe, 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 (6)(7). The company is committed to net zero emissions by 2040 (8). Syneos Health supports ESG within its business practices. From its 2023 ESG Report: “Syneos Health made considerable progress on our ESG priorities last year—leveraging our expertise and insights to advance
our strategy with clear actions that are important both to our customers and to our business” (9). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its Supplier Diversity Web Page: “Diversity and inclusion are foundations of any successful business model. Syneos Health remains committed to increasing and expanding diversity with our valued partners and suppliers. Diversity is rooted in our culture, as we believe a diversified portfolio unlocks invaluable benefits for our customers, employees and shareholders” (10).

Syneos Health’s HRC 2026 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, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially 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)(3)(4). The company’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 (5)(6). Syneos Health hosted LGBTQ Pride Month events and donated to the Proud Science Alliance (7). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (8).

Syneos Health’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).