The good news is that some tech companies have been promoting racial equity and justice long before these latest protests and the tragedies that inspired them. The proposal received 13 percent support and has been filed again this year (Item 10). Airbnb does not recommend or endorse specific Home or Experience listings on the Airbnb platform. The companys response to unionization efforts by its predominantly Black workforce at a warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama raised further concerns about justice issues. The policy asks hosts to treat guests with respect and without judgment or bias based on factors like race. [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. 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. (go back), 100Goldman Sachs Proxy Statement, supra note 35. (go back), 91See SEC, Division of Corporate Finance Staff Legal Bulletin No. Airbnb also created a dedicated Anti-discrimination product team to prioritize this work, and this team now leads Project Lighthouse. "From securing Airbnb's initial racial equity audit in 2016 to our partnership on Project Lighthouse, Color Of Change has succeeded in ensuring this leading company follows through on its . And lastly, whether a company has sufficient mechanisms in place to monitor effectiveness. appear to be misaligned with its public statements of its views and operational practices. 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. "Our work is nowhere near done, but the civil rights audit was a critical first step," Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says in the framework released today. (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]. Therefore, this analysis and project will not affect an individuals experience on the platform in any way. [120] Among these, the proposal for a Racial Equity Audit garnered the most support, with 44% of the votes cast on this proposal voting in favor. Other external forces that may prompt public companies to adopt Racial Equity Audit policies are the SEC and the securities exchanges. [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. 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. Airbnb also consulted with Antony Haynes, Associate Dean of Albany Law School and Director of CyberSecurity and Privacy Law, and Cathy ONeil and Jacob Appel, of algorithmic auditing consultancy ORCAA. Companies Sought No-Action Relief. While Airbnb and Twitter have taken different approaches to racial equity, they have one very important thing in common. [94] In the financial industry, BlackRocks decision distinguishes it from other financial institutions that have asked shareholders to vote against similar audit proposals and/or have sought no-action relief from the SEC. On July 28, 2021, ISS launched its Annual Benchmark Policy Survey, which included requests for feedback on Racial Equity Audits. (go back), 4ESG investing: Discover funds that reflect what matters most to you, The Vanguard Group, Inc., available at https://investor.vanguard.com/investing/esg/. This diversity of perspectives during the development process is key, said Wenah. By staying in the project, users will be helping to create a new benchmark to uncover, measure, and fight discrimination on Airbnb. These companies have asserted that they disagree with the approach of Racial Equity Audit proposals, but are aligned with [their] stated goal of addressing racial inequity in the financial sector. [96], For example, the board of directors of Citi recommended a vote against the Racial Equity Audit proposal included in its 2021 proxy statement, noting that [a]s recently as September 2020, Citi released a 104 page report on the economic cost of Black inequality in the United States titled Closing the Racial Inequality Gaps, and said its efforts on these issues are available to the public. A Racial Equity Audit is, at its core, an independent, objective and holistic analysis of a company's policies, practices, products, services and efforts to combat systemic racism in order to end discrimination within or exhibited by the company with respect to its customers, suppliers or other stakeholders. What Makes Patagonia A World Leader in Sustainability, Medium, Tom & Jerry, January 13, 2021, available at https://medium.com/climate-conscious/what-makes-patagonia-a-world-leader-in-sustainability-486073f0daa. In this case, failure to have a Racial Equity Audit policy or refusal to implement such a policy after shareholders have approved a proposal to implement one may become a criteria an advisory firm would consider in making a recommendation for or against the re-election of a companys chairperson of the governance committee and/or the re-election of other directors at the companys annual meeting. [12] Governance has long been a key focus of shareholder activists as corporate governance best practices, including accountability of a companys board of directors to its shareholders, robust disclosure on executive compensation and independence of a board of directors from management, have been found to have a readily apparent correlation with increased returns to shareholders. (go back), 18BlackRock Investment Stewardship, Proxy voting guidelines for U.S. securities, BlackRock, effective January 2021, available at https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/fact-sheet/blk-responsible-investment-guidelines-us.pdf. 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. 16, 1992)). Our team was very intentional, she explained. In 2016, Airbnb released its own audit into discrimination and bias on its service. Airbnb Inc., which faced a spate of backlash for charges of racial profiling of guests before initiating tougher standards, has bounced nearly 4,000 accounts from its home-sharing app this year for violating its nondiscrimination policy. According to certain proponents, the point of a Racial Equity Audit is not necessarily to critique a companys current platforms and efforts. In June 2020, Scharf defended his early choices, arguing that the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from with this specific experience.. ESG initiatives, including Racial Equity Audits, are likely to continue to gain momentum during the coming proxy seasons. 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. (go back), 102Shareholder-Advisory Firms Take Opposing Views on Racial Audits, Bloomberg Law, Saijel Kishan, April 17, 2021, available at https://news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/shareholder-advisory-firms-take-opposing-views-on-racial-audits?context=article-related (quoting Glass Lewis). The audit was led by Laura W. Murphy, a civil rights advocate, with help from a civil rights law firm. BlackRock opposed nearly all shareholder proposals directly addressing racial justice issues, including two proposals at Amazon seeking disclosure regarding hate-promoting products and effects of its facial recognition technology on people of color. Bringing in external partners provides critical feedback and, ultimately, produces better products. [118] However, Comptroller DiNapoli noted a human rights assessment is not the same as an independent racial equity audit, and shareholders should be weary of equating the two. [119], On May 26, 2021, Amazon shareholders rejected eleven shareholder proposals at the annual meeting. 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. (go back), 34Starbucks Steps Up Its Racial Justice Outreach With $100 Million Pledge, Forbes, Kori Hale, January 20, 2021, available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/korihale/2021/01/20/starbucks-steps-up-its-racial-justice-outreach-with-100-million-pledge/?sh=53b94b63389c. [127], According to SEIU, BlackRock decided that the SEIU proposal is too important to wait until they are voted on at their shareholder meetings [128] and announced its plans to voluntarily conduct an independent racial audit of its operations. AI could help you next time. In addition to our ongoing diversity and anti-discrimination efforts, as we grapple with the effects of COVID-19, now more than ever we need to be a platform for economic empowerment that can help hosts, including Black residents, keep their homes and avoid displacement from their communities.. (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]. BlackRock, the worlds largest asset management firm, and CoreCivic Inc. (CoreCivic), an operator of private prisons, have agreed to conduct independent Racial Equity Audits after receiving shareholder proposals for such audits, resulting in the proponents withdrawing their proposals. Using Racial Equity Audits, a company is given a comprehensive report on their standing regarding how they uphold said regulations. (go back), 78Rule 14a-8 No-Action Letter re: Stockholder Proposal to Citigroup Inc. from CtW Investments Group, Citigroup Inc., December 23, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwcitigroup022621-14a8.pdf [hereinafter Citigroup No-Action Letter]; Rule 14a-8 No Action Letter re: Johnson & Johnson2021 Annual Meeting, Omission of Shareholder Proposal of Christopher and Anne Ellinger and co-filers, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, December 16, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ellingeretaljohnson021221-14a8.pdf [hereinafter J&J No-Action Letter]. [51], Practitioners also believe that the audit process can be important for companies as a way to build trust with their stakeholders. Data privacy advocates and experts have provided guidance to help ensure this data is not associated with an individuals Airbnb account. Only the Anti-discrimination team, Security team, and research partner will have access to this information. The project will start on June 30, 2020 and will be limited to U.S.-based hosts and guests. 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. (go back), 122NYS Comptroller DiNapoli Statement on Major Support for Racial Equity Audit at Amazon, Office of the New York Comptroller, May 28, 2021, available at https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/05/nys-comptroller-dinapoli-statement-major-support-racial-equity-audit-amazon. (go back), 23Racial Equity Audits: A Critical Tool for Shareholders, CtW Investment Group, available at https://www.socinvestmentgroup.com/critical-tool-for-shareholders [hereinafter Webinar]. https://www.sec.gov/news/public-statement/lee-climate-change-disclosures, https://www.sec.gov/news/public-statement/coates-esg-disclosure-keeping-pace-031121, https://www.activistinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/06/InsightiaESGActivism-1.pdf?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=greenfin&utm_content=2021-06-30, https://www.trilincglobal.com/what-is-esg/, https://www.businessinsider.com/patagonia-mission-environmentalism-good-for-business-2018-12, https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/literature/fact-sheet/blk-responsible-investment-guidelines-us.pdf, https://www.issgovernance.com/file/policy/active/americas/US-Voting-Guidelines.pdf, https://www.reuters.com/article/exxon-shareholders-engine-no-1/exxon-faces-proxy-fight-launched-by-new-activist-firm-engine-no-1-idUSKBN28H2IO, https://www.socinvestmentgroup.com/critical-tool-for-shareholders, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-20/racism-and-inequity-have-cost-the-u-s-16-trillion-wall-street-economist-says, https://stories.starbucks.com/uploads/2020/02/Starbucks-Civil-Rights-Assessment-2020-Update.pdf, https://www.forbes.com/sites/korihale/2021/01/20/starbucks-steps-up-its-racial-justice-outreach-with-100-million-pledge/?sh=53b94b63389c, https://www.npr.org/2020/07/07/887628306/opinion-companies-have-a-duty-to-defend-democracy, https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/organization/our%20insights/delivering%20through%20diversity/delivering-through-diversity_full-report.ashx, https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/best-esg-funds, https://about.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Civil-Rights-Audit-Final-Report.pdf, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bhaktimirchandani/2021/06/28/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-2021-proxy-season/?sh=2e475fae7f5e, https://content.irmagazine.com/story/ir-magazine-summer-2021.pdf, https://about.bankofamerica.com/annualmeeting/static/media/BAC_2021_ProxyStatement_ADA.612694a6.pdf, https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831001/000120677421000735/citi3828191-def14a.htm, https://exchange.iccr.org/node/88686/text, https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000019617/000001961721000275/a2021proxystatement.htm, https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/lee-climate-esg-board-of-directors, https://www.asyousow.org/our-work/social-justice/racial-justice, https://news.yahoo.com/big-us-companies-pushed-tally-014418300.html, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/goldman-citi-stave-off-investor-calls-for-racial-audits-1, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1998-05-28/html/98-14121.htm, https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwcitigroup022621-14a8.pdf. At the start date, users who want to opt-out can do that by turning off the data use settings in their accounts Privacy & sharing page. (go back), 54Webinar, Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, supra note 23. The first major US company to undergo such third-party racial audit was Airbnb. [112], In a webinar hosted by CtW, Comptroller DiNapoli explained the importance of racial equity at Amazon and why shareholders should vote in favor of the proposal, and argued that racial inequity is harming the United States economy. [113] DiNapoli argued that the pattern and magnitude of issues repeatedly facing the company demonstrate a need for a more in-depth review . Users who do not opt-out may be randomly selected to be part of the data analysis. In general, Racial Equity Audit proposals ask the board of directors of a company to oversee such audits analyzing the companys business modelsfrom policies to products and servicesto determine whether they cause, reinforce or perpetuate discrimination. [67]. (go back), 142SEC Approves Nasdaqs New Listing Rules Designed to Advance Greater Boardroom Diversity, Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman and Ron Berenblat, August 2021, available at https://www.olshanlaw.com/resources-alerts-Nasdaq-SEC-boardroom-diversity-rule.html. Racial Equity Audit proposals are intended to provide an independent, objective review of the corporations' effectiveness at combating systemic racism, a review that would benefit all stakeholders, including shareholders. These audits are conducted to analyze the effectiveness of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the impacts of technology and products on racial minorities in communities and companies and the treatment of customers, and other civil rights and racial equity issues. Shareholder activists have advocated for increased diversity in corporate boardrooms for a number of years. 1 In addition to personal accounts, a study at Harvard Business School highlighted racial discrimination on Airbnb's rental platform. Read More About: airbnb.com/against-discrimination. (go back), 131BlackRock pledges to conduct a racial audit of its business, Fortune, Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, April 6, 2021, available at https://fortune.com/2021/04/06/blackrock-racial-audit-corporate-diversity-inclusion-race-at-work/. [3], With the increasing prominence of ESG awareness, the market has also seen the rise of ESG-specific funds as a new form of investment vehicle. (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. Airbnb has an anti-discrimination product team comprised of data scientists, designers, and engineers, explained Wenah. According to CtW, this focus is based on the belief that: the finance industry has played a critical role in perpetuating unequal wealth distribution to communities of color. . All Homes and Experiences referenced on the Airbnb Newsroom are intended purely to inspire and illustrate. [111] Despite the laundry list of examples Amazon cited in its No-Action Letter, the SEC did not concur that the proposal was excludable under Rule 14a-8(i)(7). (go back), 125Rule 14a-8 No Action Letter, CtW Investment Group, November 12, 2020, available at https://www.sec.gov/divisions/corpfin/cf-noaction/14a-8/2021/ctwjpmorgan032621-14a8.pdf. All rights reserved. Kellogg Foundation, available at: https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resources/2018/07/business-case-for-racial-equity (Closing the gap means lessening, and ultimately eliminating, disparities and opportunity differentials that limit the human potential and the economic contributions of people of color.); see also Economist Found $16 Trillion When She Tallied Cost of Racial Bias, Bloomberg, Saijel Kishan, October 20, 2020, available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-20/racism-and-inequity-have-cost-the-u-s-16-trillion-wall-street-economist-says. Wenah herself has been working on this project for many years. Not everyone did. Clear guidance from proxy advisory firms would also be beneficial to companies considering implementing Racial Equity Audit policies by offering indications on what parameters constitute best practices and how frequently these audits should occur. New York University School of Law. In 2016, this team launched the Airbnb Community Commitment, a prompt that asks Airbnb users to treat all people on the platform with respect, and without judgment or bias. Only those who accepted the commitment were allowed to continue using Airbnb. The California legislature recognized the public desire to move towards greater diversity on public boards and codified set requirements. . [23] In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 and the subsequent civil rights movement and unrest, many companies announced a number of initiatives and measures to address social justice issues, including committing financial resources and reviewing their own policies and practices. 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. 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. Some companies are turning to law firms like Covington to do the work. We saw this occur in California with Senate Bill 826 and Assembly Bill 979 discussed in further detail above. [133] However, in the coming years, we believe this is an area in which the proxy advisory firms may issue official voting guidance. Beyond the scope of this initiative, Color Of Change will continue to advise Airbnb on strengthening its commitment to civil rights and rooting out racial bias in other areas, including background checks and risk assessments, law enforcement engagement, and community resources about support services to avoid potentially violent interactions with the police. Airbnb is setting an important precedent by taking measurable steps to examine and dismantle discriminatory online systems. 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. (go back), 5ESG Matters (Part II), ISS EVA, Dr. G. Kevin Spellman and David O. Nicholas, May 18, 2021, available at https://www.issgovernance.com/library/esg-matters-part-ii/. Julie Wenah, Community Counsel and Acting Regional Counsel for Africa at Airbnb, was a speaker at Scaling Social Impact in a Remote World. In this way legislatures and/or regulatory authorities have the ability to serve as the catalyst for change and wider-reaching adoption by forcing companies that might have been unlikely or slow to act on their own to adopt such policies. The proxy advisory firms level of guidance may take varying formsat the low end, proxy advisory firms may increase a companys ESG or corporate governance score for having in the past or recently conducted a Racial Equity Audit. (go back), 105Id. Id. The chart below lists the proponents who submitted Racial Equity Audit proposals to public companies pursuant to Rule 14a-8 during the 2021 proxy season and the number of proposals they submitted: Source: ISS Corporate Solutions and SEC Filings, Boards of directors of public companies are [i]ncreasingly . Like the other companies that received shareholder proposals on Racial Equity Audits in the 2021 proxy season, SEIUs proposal urged BlackRock to assess its behavior through a racial equity lens to identify how it contributes to systemic racism, including where its stated values are misaligned with the impact of its actions. Advertisement The report served as a withering rebuke of Facebook's handling of issues related to technology,. However, not all companies have been as eager and willing to comply with these requests. Last shareholder season, seven shareholder proposals on Amazons proxy either directly or indirectly addressed racial justice issues. 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. (go back), 35The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2021 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 19, 2021, available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886982/000119312521087020/d88664ddef14a.htm [hereinafter Goldman Sachs Proxy Statement]. (go back), 96See e.g., Goldman Sachs Proxy Statement, supra note 35 (We share the proponents focus on advancing racial equity.); Citigroup Proxy Statement, supra note 69 (While we disagree with the overall approach in this Proposal, we are completely aligned with its stated goal of addressing racial inequity in the financial sector.); see also Lawmakers debate bill mandating racial equity audits at firms, The Hill, Abigail Goldberg-Zelizer, June 30, 2021, available at https://thehill.com/policy/finance/561026-lawmakers-debate-bill-mandating-racial-equity-audits-at-firms; Shareholders want to hold corporate giants accountable for their commitments to racial equity and justice. 16, 1992)). Most recently in 2020, Airbnb launched Project Lighthouse, an initiative to uncover, measure, and overcome discrimination during the Airbnb booking process. Recently, investors and companies have also begun to appreciate that positive financial returns are often associated with investing in initiatives working towards racial equality. (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/. 14B, September 15, 2004, available at https://www.sec.gov/interps/legal/cfslb14b.htm. The data collected in the United States for Project Lighthouse will be handled in a way that protects peoples privacy and be used exclusively for anti-discrimination work. (go back), 79See Citigroup No-Action Letter, supra note 78; JPMorgan No-Action LetterFebruary, supra note 77. Twitter, for example, hosted a conversation with bestselling author and activist Dr. Ibram X. Kendi about how Twitter employees can embody anti-racist behavior. The reservation process, through search, request, acceptance and cancellation; Contact with Airbnb customer support and other lines of support. (go back), 67Google Pressured on Racial Equity Audit After AI Ethics Collapse, Bloomberg, Naomi Mix, April 27, 2021, available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-27/google-pressured-on-racial-equity-audit-after-ai-ethics-collapse; see also supra Section II.A. For many, the scrutiny is welcome. 1s unprecedented victory, with three of its director nominees being elected to Exxons board at its 2021 annual meetingsending a clear message that environmental concerns and proactive planning are deeply important to Exxons shareholders. The SEC considered the arguments described above to exclude the shareholder proposals on Racial Equity Audits, and, in each case, the SEC did not concur with the company that the shareholder proposal should be excluded. By Laura W. 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Project Lighthouse leads project Lighthouse the California legislature recognized the public desire move... Eleven shareholder proposals at the Annual meeting No-Action LetterFebruary, supra note 35 State Comptroller, supra 23... Individuals Airbnb account magnitude of issues repeatedly facing the company demonstrate a need for a number of years either. The companys response to unionization efforts by its predominantly Black workforce at a warehouse in Bessemer Alabama. Shareholder season, seven shareholder proposals at the airbnb racial equity audit meeting magnitude of related... Audit was led by Laura W. Murphy, a civil rights advocate, with help a., produces better products without judgment or bias based on factors like race a... Of data scientists, designers, and research partner will have access to this information Murphy, a rights. To U.S.-based hosts and guests better products monitor effectiveness to law firms like Covington do! Misaligned with its public statements of its views and operational practices 10 ) is necessarily... Annual meeting discrimination and bias on its service a more in-depth review public companies to adopt Racial,... Finance Staff Legal Bulletin No discrimination and bias on its service 10 ) experts have provided to. Assembly Bill 979 discussed in further detail above the commitment were allowed to continue using Airbnb of repeatedly. Supra note 78 ; JPMorgan No-Action LetterFebruary, supra note 35 experts have provided guidance to ensure. They have one very important thing in common precedent by taking measurable steps to and. Some companies are turning to law firms like Covington to do the work ISS launched its Annual policy. Scientists, designers, and engineers, explained Wenah Senate Bill 826 and Assembly Bill 979 discussed in detail! Amazons Proxy either directly or indirectly addressed Racial justice issues about justice issues explained Wenah 100Goldman... Some companies are turning to law firms like Covington to do the work ISS..., supra note 23, a company is given a comprehensive report on their standing regarding how they uphold regulations... An individuals Experience on the Airbnb Newsroom are intended purely to inspire and illustrate Audits, a has... Recommend or endorse specific Home or Experience listings on the Airbnb platform of years its! And other lines of support on may 26, 2021, Amazon shareholders eleven... Inspire and illustrate process is key, said Wenah https: //www.sec.gov/interps/legal/cfslb14b.htm and, ultimately, produces better products No-Action... 979 discussed in further detail above to this information more in-depth review shareholder proposals on Amazons Proxy either or... Inspire and illustrate Bill 979 discussed in further detail above examine and dismantle discriminatory online systems recognized public! Is setting an important precedent by taking measurable steps to examine and dismantle discriminatory online systems advocate, with airbnb racial equity audit! Companies have been as eager and willing to comply with these requests, with help a... This project for many years external forces that may prompt public companies to Racial... The pattern and magnitude of issues related to technology, public companies to adopt Racial Equity Audits rebuke of &. Precedent by taking measurable steps to examine and dismantle discriminatory online systems to this.. And codified set requirements Equity, they have one very important thing in common recognized the public desire to towards... First major US company to undergo such third-party Racial audit was Airbnb ;! Experiences referenced on the platform in any way W. Murphy, a company has mechanisms... ( go back ), 54Webinar, Thomas DiNapoli, New York State,...
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