At a time when we cannot rely on government alone to further social justice goals, unusual allies become more important than ever. According to certain proponents, the point of a Racial Equity Audit is not necessarily to critique a companys current platforms and efforts. Data privacy advocates and experts have provided guidance to help ensure this data is not associated with an individuals Airbnb account. Racial equity audits of corporations originated, raised further concerns about justice issues, the company committed multiple violations of employees rights. Therefore, this analysis and project will not affect an individuals experience on the platform in any way. As the area develops (and if more companies voluntarily implement these audits), Racial Equity Audits could become viewed as good corporate governance, particularly if top proxy advisory firms issue official guidance supporting the implementation of such audits. [104] The proposal was submitted by Comptroller DiNapoli, as trustee of New York States Common Retirement Fund for public employees, which owns shares in Amazon. Then at the end of 2018, Airbnb sought to further mitigate bias by developing a policy that hides Airbnb guest profile photos until after the booking is accepted. (go back), 128SEIU and Change to Wins investment funds pushing for racial diversity in financial institutions, available at https://www.seiu.org/blog/2021/4/seiu-and-change-to-wins-investment-funds-pushing-for-racial-diversity-in-financial-institutions. [63] If the company determines that it is not in the best interests of the company to include a Rule 14a-8 shareholder proposal in its proxy materials, it can (i) seek no-action relief from the SEC staff (the Staff) that, if granted, would allow the company to exclude the proposal without the threat of Staff recommendation of an enforcement action based on a procedural deficiency or a substantive exclusion under Rule 14a-8; (ii) take legal action in court to exclude the proposal; and/or (iii) negotiate with the proponent to withdraw the proposal. Back Submit . Areas include, for example: This project has been in development for nearly two years with support and input from Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC, Center for Democracy & Technology, Color Of Change, League of United Latin American Citizens LULAC, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Action Network, The Leadership Conference, and Upturn. Indeed, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion is currently reviewing legislation that would require banks to conduct Racial Equity Audits every two years in an effort to promote diversity and equity. Following the audit at Facebook, the company . For example, Patagonia, Inc., which has been a vocal public champion of environmental activism and whose founder and chairman once declared that the company was in business to save the planet, has seen its revenues quadruple over the past ten years. (go back), 38See e.g., Opinion: Companies Have a Duty to Defend Democracy, NPR, Brett Bruen, July 7, 2020, available at https://www.npr.org/2020/07/07/887628306/opinion-companies-have-a-duty-to-defend-democracy (discussing corporations ability to be more responsive to critical issues to voters on the macro-level, such as gun control and climate change, as well as on a more personal level including Twitter, Uber and Blue Apron announc[ing that] they would give employees a paid day off when their country holds elections). [1] Secondsocial criteria, which considers how a company engages with all of its stakeholders (including employees, customers and suppliers) rather than just shareholders, including the treatment and diversity of its employees on the frontline, management and boardroom levels, the effects of a company on the surrounding community, and whether a company is working with suppliers who share similar socially desirable values. As Black Lives Matter uprisings continue to swell beyond the borders of the United States, the tech industry has been forced to reckon with racism within its own companies. (go back), 48Webinar, Pamela Coukos, Co-Founder of Working Ideal, supra note 23; supra note 27. What's new: The report which got sign-off from a slew of civil rights groups lays out 10 standards for racial audits. We have a responsibility to do more. The banks are fighting back., Markets Insider, Marguerite Ward, April 7, 2021, available at https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/bank-leaders-buck-shareholder-call-third-party-racial-equity-audit-2021-4 (We believe our progress on the issue of racial equality, and our regular reporting of that progress, make the proposals requested audit unnecessary, a Bank of America spokesperson told Insider.). ; see also Human Rights, Amazon, available at https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/people/human-rights?workerCount=true&engagementProgram=true&productCategory=true. The proponents argued that Home Depots political contributions appear to be misaligned with its public statements of its views and operational practices. The proposal received substantial support, with 38 percent of shares voted in favor. Airbnb also created a dedicated Anti-discrimination product team to prioritize this work, and this team now leads Project Lighthouse. No two companies are identical. And the same study found that white Airbnb hosts in Black neighborhoods earned an estimated $160 million, compared to only $48 million earned by Black hosts. Whether it be modern day redlining techniques related to mortgage loans, to excessive checking account fees, to most recently, Payday [sic] Protection Program distribution, communities of color have faced decades of discrimination as a result of the financial industrys policies and practices. [44] Advocates of Racial Equity Audits believe that they are essentially intended to be implemented in furtherance of risk management and risk tolerance, criteria that fiduciaries may choose to measure in order to protect their investments. (go back), 117See Webinar, Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, supra note 23. Alleged retaliation against employees who raise issues of discrimination. According to the proposal for a report on current policies in underwriting police insurance, Travelers does not disclose specific policies or programs to reduce the risk of racist police brutality.. At the higher end, proxy advisory firms may offer official guidelines on what they believe are minimum actions a company should take with respect to Racial Equity Audits in order to receive the advisors support. where the board recommends that shareholders vote against the racial equity audit proposal. For example, such guidelines may provide for a minimum frequency of Racial Equity Audits and indicate parameters on what attributes an audit must possess to be considered sufficient. Shareholder activist Engine No. (go back), 70Citigroup Proxy Statement, supra note 69; JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2021 Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 7, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000019617/000001961721000275/a2021proxystatement.htm [hereinafter JPMorgan Proxy Statement]. [65] Certain of these racial justice proposals submitted by shareholders included proposals calling for Racial Equity Audits. [132] However, as Racial Equity Audits become more commonplace and enter the cultural norm, these proposals may begin to resonate with more stakeholders and be approved by shareholders as early as the next proxy season. (go back), 95For a detailed discussion of BlackRocks decision to implement a Racial Equity Audit, see Section IV.A. [134] ISS will use the results from its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey as a key component of ISS annual policy development process to assess potential policy changes across regions and markets for 2022 and beyond. [135] While ISS has largely appeared hesitant to support Racial Equity Audits in the circumstances presented in the 2021 proxy season, the results from its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey could change its future guidance and recommendations on such audits. In partnership with Color Of Change and with guidance from civil rights and privacy rights organizations, Airbnb is launching Project Lighthouse, a groundbreaking effort by a consumer tech company to collect the data needed to measure and evaluate discrimination on its platform in the US so it can take additional action against it. Further, companies wishing to stay ahead of the curve may start by critically and objectively looking at their current internal practices and policies relating to equity and inclusion and identifying areas in need of improvement. These audits, often conducted by outside firms or individuals, examine and assess company actions and how those actions advance or prevent discrimination within their workplaces. And lastly, whether a company has sufficient mechanisms in place to monitor effectiveness. Read More About: airbnb.com/against-discrimination. (go back), 94CoreCivic, Inc., Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 18, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1070985/000119312521165313/d184269d8k.htm. [4] According to research from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), ESG Funds were among the largest winners in 2020, taking in a record $60 billion in net flows, nearly triple their 2019 total. [5]. All Homes and Experiences referenced on the Airbnb Newsroom are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. Every company has a different mix of products, operations and services; therefore, according to practitioners in the area, it is important for participants in a Racial Equity Audit to identify the scope of the audit and benchmarks prior to conducting the audit. Item 7 requests a racial and gender board diversity report, the proponent arguing that the banks 25 percent representation of people of color on the board does not correlate to its workforce or customer base. New York State Common Retirement Fund et al. 30-10825; 34-89670; File No. . (go back), 69Citigroup Inc., 2021 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831001/000120677421000735/citi3828191-def14a.htm [hereinafter Citigroup Proxy Statement]; see also CoreCivic Inc. Proposal, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), available at https://exchange.iccr.org/node/88686/text. BlackRock, with $8.7 trillion of assets under management, said in a memo to employees Thursday that an external review of how its diversity, equity and inclusion policies impact stakeholders will. These perceptions will be aggregated and used to identify and measure discrepancies in peoples experiences on the platform that could be a result of discrimination and bias. Proponents of Racial Equity Audits warn that such audits should be conducted in a robust manner by fully independent third parties, and that the subject companies take action to address deficiencies, shortcomings and concerns uncovered by the audits. 20091 (August 16, 1983)). It must include a plan of action for resolution of issues identified, which should include responsibility and mechanisms for ongoing oversight and governance of racial equity related matters. (go back), 84See J&J No-Action Letter, supra note 78. (go back), 74Big US companies pushed to tally progress on racial justice, Yahoo! We anticipate greater interest in Racial Equity Audits and similar initiatives in the upcoming proxy season and accordingly believe companies will be pushed to critically and objectively examine their current internal practices and policies relating to equity and inclusion to identify areas in need of improvement. If a company lags behind in this quickly developing area, we believe shareholders may become more willing to launch shareholder campaigns focused on ESG issues, including demanding objective results through Racial Equity Audits. 34-40018, May 28, 1998, available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-05-28/html/98-14121.htm. Airbnb. (go back), 81See Citigroup No-Action Letter, supra note 78. For all companies, and especially tech . (go back), 76See Amendments to Rules on Shareholder Proposals, Exchange Act Release No. Racial Equity Audits are the practice of independently reviewing an organisation's policies and ascertaining how well they encourage and promote inclusion, diversity, and racial equality. The most wishlisted Design and Creative Space stays for inspiring retreats, Visit North Carolina and Airbnb relaunch partnership to boost rural tourism, Get to know your Host community in Europe: Meet Katerina from Greece. (go back), 47The Best ESG Funds for Great Returns & Low Costs, Forbes, Rob Berger and Benjamin Curry, July 1, 2021, available at https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/best-esg-funds/. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. 1 launched a proxy campaign in December 2020 to effect change on Exxons board of directors. The proposal received 13 percent support and has been filed again this year (Item 10). [121] Comptroller DiNapoli described the vote as an immense success for a first-time proposal . For example, in the supporting statement submitted by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to its Racial Equity Audit proposal included in the proxy statement for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.s (Goldman) 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, SEIU detailed Goldmans alleged contributions to systemic racism. We would all be better served if more companies followed Airbnbs lead in developing robust internal systems for considering and combatting discrimination issues as products and tools are being designed and before theyre rolled out, said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The following proposals will be put to shareholders at its May 25, 2022 annual meeting: Atlanta-based Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in North America, faced a shareholder proposal in 2021 that requested a political contributions congruency analysis. While we witnessed an increase in shareholder proposals related to Racial Equity Audits in the 2021 proxy season, all such proposals were either withdrawn or defeated. No major proxy advisory firm has issued official voting guidance on the implementation of Racial Equity Auditsand the two largest advisory firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, have been split on their support for shareholder proposals requesting such audits. (go back), 72Climate, ESG, and the Board of Directors: You Cannot Direct the Wind, But You Can Adjust Your Sails, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Commissioner Allison H. Lee, June 28, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/lee-climate-esg-board-of-directors. Not only are Racial Equity Audits designed to help inform investors about their current and future investments from a social and financial perspective, but are also intended to help companies craft their policies and practices to achieve their social justice goals. [123], While the financial institutions that have received Racial Equity Audit proposals have recently made philanthropic and strategic investments, along with other commitments to racial equity, CtW has stated that the only way to effectively address racial injustice and economic inequality is careful study of how the industrys products and services have contributed to this imbalance, [124] which includes analyzing mortgage issuances, the number of bank branches in minority neighborhoods or banking deserts and whether charitable contributions are fully aligned with . [139] The draft legislation would also require banks to investigate what ties they may have to slavery and disclose steps such institution would take to reconcile profits it may have received from slavery. Racial equity audits started catching on after the events of 2020 prompted a racial reckoning in the U.S. In recent years, Color of Change and other civil rights groups have successfully pushed for independent racial equity audits at Facebook and Airbnb. [97] Wells Fargo Co. (Wells Fargo) said it is conducting a human rights impact assessment, and that it will update its Human Rights Statement to better align with the expectations of companies under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. [115] The companys environmental impact has also been called out for allegedly disproportionately affecting minority communities. According to this study, closing racial gaps would have generated an additional $16 trillion in economic output since [the year] 2000, and by closing the various gaps between Blacks and Whites, the U.S. could stand to gain an additional $5 trillion in economic activity over the next five years. [42] Racial Equity Audits could therefore prove to be a critical tool for companies looking to capture some of these unrealized gains. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Like just about every other industry, tech has felt the glare of the anti-racism spotlight following the killings of George Flloyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and others in the Black community. [41] A study by a Citigroup, Inc. (Citi) global economist found that addressing racial disparities can have even broader macro benefits. Julie Wenah, Community Counsel and Acting Regional Counsel for Africa at Airbnb, was a speaker at Scaling Social Impact in a Remote World. (go back), 66Bank of America Corporation, 2021 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, available at https://about.bankofamerica.com/annualmeeting/static/media/BAC_2021_ProxyStatement_ADA.612694a6.pdf. [11], ESG considerations are becoming increasingly relevant to shareholder activists. [57] The aspects of Facebook that the audit focused on were informed by the aforementioned interviews, which led to a holistic review of the entire company and not just a single aspect such as employment practices. Most companies who may have been unsuccessful in seeking no-action relief from the SEC to exclude the proposal or in negotiating a resolution with a shareholder to withdraw the proposal have recommended that shareholders vote against the proposals. (go back), 105Id. [54] Comptroller DiNapoli has observed that discrimination can be deep-seated within a company, and internal self-reviews have the potential to reinforce current structural impediments and biases, which is why he believes it is necessary for audits to be an independent assessment. Citigroup Inc. (Citi), Wanted "no action" relief of the Securities and Exchange Commission to exclude the requests from its 2021 proxy statements, a request which was denied. More details are publicly available in a technical paper. For example, a 2017 study found that across 72 predominantly Black New York City neighborhoods, Airbnb hosts were five times more likely to be white. The California legislature recognized the public desire to move towards greater diversity on public boards and codified set requirements. [18] Concurrently with shareholder activists nominating an increasing number of diverse director candidates, the voting policies of many institutional investors, such as BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock), have been updated to reflect a desire to enhance boardroom diversity, [19] as have the voting guidelines of many prominent proxy advisory firms, such as ISS. [61], Pursuant to Rule 14a-8, shareholders may submit proposals to be included in a companys proxy materials for its annual or special meetings of shareholders. The following proposals will be put to shareholders at its May 25, 2022 annual meeting, requesting: The shareholder proposal requesting a diversity and equity audit, Item 12, was withdrawn by the proponent, update here. It will not happen overnight. (go back), Posted by Ron S. Berenblat and Elizabeth R. Gonzalez-Sussman, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, on, Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, on Racial Equity Audits: A New ESG Initiative, The Illusory Promise of Stakeholder Governance. [109], Amazon argued the proposals call to review its impact on civil rights, equity, diversity and inclusion is a broad survey on the impact of the Companys policies, practices, products and services on societal issues, which implicates routine business issues, such as the products and services that the Company offers to its customers, the Companys business practices and operations, the Companys strategic decisions, and the Companys choice of technologies. [110] Similarly, according to Amazon, such an audit would necessarily implicate[] a multitude of ordinary business matters relating to the Companys day-to-day operations, which Amazon argued included decisions relating to, among other things, its charitable donations, hiring decisions, diversity and recruitment initiatives, customer relations, advertising, public relations and communications with its shareholders and the kinds of products it sold. (go back), 116See How Amazons Emissions are Hurting Communities of Color, Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, May 26, 2020, available at https://amazonemployees4climatejustice.medium.com/environmental-justice-and-amazons-carbon-footprint-9e10fab21138; Amazon workers demand end to pollution hitting people of color hardest, NBC News, April Gleiser and Leticia Miranda, May 24, 2021, available at https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/amazon-shareholders-demand-end-pollution-hitting-people-color-hardest-n1268413. However, on August 6, 2021, the SEC approved new listing rules proposed by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) requiring each Nasdaq-listed company to disclose certain information about the diversity of its board of directors and generally include a minimum number of members of its board of directors who are Diverse (as defined within the new listing rules). (go back), 46Best ESG Funds: High-Rated and Low-Cost Options, NerdWallet, Alana Benson, May 9, 2021, available at https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/best-esg-funds. (go back), 107Amazon Proxy Statement, supra note 104. The Airbnb Newsroom is aimed at journalists. (go back), 93See J&J No-Action Letter, supra note 78. Most recently in 2020, Airbnb launched Project Lighthouse, an initiative to uncover, measure, and overcome discrimination during the Airbnb booking process. Second, whether any changes to existing programs or new measures or initiatives, would help a company become more equitable and inclusive. In September 2019, Airbnb released a Three-Year Review of its Work to Fight Discrimination and Build Inclusion in an effort to maintain transparency and accountability. Under Rule 14a-8(i)(10), a company is permitted to exclude a shareholder proposal if the company has already substantially implemented the proposal. That movement, together with the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have focused the attention of the media, the public and policy makers on systemic racism, racialized violence and inequities in employment, health care, and the criminal justice system. Id. The companys response to unionization efforts by its predominantly Black workforce at a warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama raised further concerns about justice issues. In 2016, Airbnb released its own audit into discrimination and bias on its service. One of key takeaways from Airbnb and Twitter's leadership on racial equity is that the commitment to justice and inclusion must span businesses and products. In August 2021, a National Labor Relations Board hearing officers report on a union election there found that the company committed multiple violations of employees rights. In a world where we have seen data and technology used to foster discrimination, we are pleased to see Airbnb use them to fight bias on its platform. Just like its environmental and corporate governance counterparts, addressing social concerns can be equally important to companies and investors alike as this can translate into, among other things, value additive results. As the ESG movement gains momentum, and as the new wave of investors who factor ESG concerns into their investment decisions gain a larger share of the market, companies are being advised to revisit their current policies and practices under the ESG lens. According to a Northeastern University School of Law research paper, Policing the Police, professional liability insurance can be used as an instrument for identifying officers engaged in risky policing behaviors and pricing them out. Similar proposals have been filed in the 2022 season, along with various other proposals requesting reporting on internal and external corporate policies and practices. (go back), 77Rule 14a-8 No Action Letter re: JPMorgan Chase & Co.2021 Annual Meeting, Supplemental Letter dated January 11, 2021, Relating to Shareholder Proposal Submitted by CtW Investment Group, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, February 16, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwjpmorgan032621-14a8.pdf [hereinafter JPMorgan No-Action LetterFebruary]. This is all while donating the greater of 1% of sales or 10% of profits to environmental activism, working to be 100% carbon neutral by 2025 and allowing employees to spend up to two fully-paid months of working time on supporting environmental conservation projects. (go back), 85See Amazon No-Action Letter, supra note 83. (go back), 120Amazon investors reject New York retirement funds call for a racial-equity audit, 10 other shareholder proposals, MarketWatch, Levi Sumagaysay, May 28, 2021, available at https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-investors-reject-new-york-retirement-funds-call-for-a-racial-equity-audit-10-other-shareholder-proposals-11622242863. (go back), 64What You Need To Know About The 2021 Proxy Season, Forbes, Bhakti Mirchandani, June 28, 2021, available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/bhaktimirchandani/2021/06/28/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-2021-proxy-season/?sh=2e475fae7f5e. As an extra security precaution, this information will be deleted every 30 days. Corp. Code 301.3, 301.4. Exxon faces proxy fight launched by new activist firm Engine No. [43] Accordingly, it has been argued that working to ensure that systemic risk in the marketplace is proactively addressed via, for example, a Racial Equity Audit, is consistent with a fiduciarys duties. Some studies have shown that promoting racial justice can increase profitability and competitive advantage. [39] A study by McKinsey & Company found that implementing or improving racial justice policies can positively affect a companys bottom line. public statements. [125]. Even with an increase in the number of shareholder proposals requesting Racial Equity Audits, it is possible that companies may not adopt them as quickly or as widely as the public and/or certain legislative bodies would prefer. Other external forces that may prompt public companies to adopt Racial Equity Audit policies are the SEC and the securities exchanges. The first major US company to undergo such third-party racial audit was Airbnb. We are requesting that boards engage a variety of key stakeholders in undergoing this audit and evaluating the specific topics to be addressed, including civil rights organizations, employees, shareholders, and customers. appear to be misaligned with its public statements of its views and operational practices. In its advertising products, Google has blocked companies from using racial justice terms like Black Lives Matter while allowing advertisers to search and place their content on tens of millions of videos tagged with white nationalist terms like White Power or White Lives Matter. The proponent of the racial equity audit proposal, Nathan Cummings Foundation, is concerned that many of Alphabets business practices are enabling racism and discrimination, posing legal, financial, and reputational risk.. 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