Pfizer faces shareholder proposal on DE&I disclosure

In its supporting statement, As You Sow writes: ‘Quantitative data is sought so that investors can assess, understand and compare the effectiveness of companies’ [DE&I] programs and apply this analysis to investors’ portfolio management and securities’ selection process.’

The group cites studies including ones finding that companies with the strongest racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to have financial returns above their industry medians, and that the 20 most diverse companies had an average annual five-year stock return 5.8 percent higher than the 20 least-diverse companies. Read More →

Social JusticeAs You SowFebruary 24, 2022racial justice, racial inequality, DEI, racial justice scorecard, homepage

Analysis: Millennials and global consumers push U.S. companies to get political

Some companies that are reluctant to criticize specific laws or policies are still willing to come out with more general statements. For example, roughly 330 of the 500 companies in the S&P 500 Index issued comments last year in support of social justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of Minneapolis police, according to shareholder advocacy group As You Sow. Read More →

Companies say Black Lives Matter. Investors say Prove it.

Roughly 20 companies face such proposals this year, including eight banks, Johnson & Johnson, Foot Locker and Monster Beverage, according to the 2021 Proxy Preview produced by Si2, As You Sow and Proxy Impact. In short, the resolutions ask these companies to report on how their business practices harm people of color and what they plan to do about it. Read More →

Proxy PreviewAs You SowApril 1, 2021homepage, CJ Clouse, proxy, Proxy Preview, racial justice, racial inequality

Racial justice scorecard says waste companies fall short on providing detailed workplace equity metrics

Following the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020, many companies released statements supporting the Black community or calling for action to fight systemic racism. The As You Sow scorecard aims to measure whether these companies are actively working to “ensure that the statements of support for racial justice are translated into concrete actions that truly promote equity,” As You Sow stated in its announcement of the scorecard. Read More →

Investor groups ponder further action on racial inequality

Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow, says the group is maintaining a database of companies that have published public statements on Black Lives Matter and racial equality. Behar is interested in which companies follow through on their statements. Read More →

Human RightsAsYouSowJune 15, 2020Ben Ashwell, racial inequality