As You Sow released two scorecards Thursday to help investors assess how S&P 500 companies do when it comes to racial justice and workplace equity disclosure.
The racial justice benchmark includes 22 key performance indicators, while the workplace diversity, equity and inclusion benchmark has 31.
The interactive data lets investors compare by sector, market cap, number of employees and geography, and the scorecards identify best practices.
The non-profit shareholder advocacy organization noted that there is a "serious lack of statistical data" on diversity and inclusion, making it difficult to see the scope of racial disparity in corporate culture.
"It's wonderful to see corporate commitments to racial justice and fair workplaces," said As You Sow's workplace equity initiative manager Meredith Benton, a principal with Whistle Stop Capital, who consults with asset owners and advisers to increase ESG investments. "Companies have done a lot of telling and very little showing of how they treat their employees," Ms. Benton said in the release.
As You Sow' racial justice initiative coordinator Olivia Knight said in the same release that the goal in releasing the racial justice scorecard "is to provide a helping hand to get companies on the path to end systemic racism, starting with the corporate sector."
Addressing racial economic inequality will be the focus of a new House Ways and Means Committee initiative, Chairman Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., said Thursday. The committee's working group was inspired by a committee report, "Something Must Change: Inequities in U.S. Policy and Society," and framework, "A Bold Vision for a Legislative Pathway Toward Health and Economic Equity," that highlights policy proposals the committee will focus on, including retirement security and community investment.
