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Judging Companies

Hold them responsible with this corporate accountability test!


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Corporations only have the power that we give them. If we buy what they sell, or allow our government to buy, corporations get bigger. If we refuse to buy what they sell, and make sure that our government does the same, they get smaller.

Corporations know this, and they've gotten very good at making themselves look worthy of our money. But are they? Here's some questions to ask yourself:

  • Does the company pay fair wages?
  • Does it allow unions?
  • Does it respect the rights of its employees?
  • Has it broken pension or health insurance promises?
  • Has it laid off workers while giving executives raises?
  • Does it use foreign contractors solely to save money?
  • Does it send jobs overseas?
  • What is its safety record?
  • What is its environmental record?
  • Does it provide substandard products or services?
  • Does it sell banned products to foreign markets?
  • Is it honest with the public?
  • Does it deal fairly with the communities it impacts?
  • Does it respect its customers?
  • Does it promote unsafe or unethical behavior to sell its products?
  • Does it pay lobbyists to work against the public good?
  • Has it engaged in criminal misconduct?
  • Does it deal with rogue governments?
  • Has it overcharged on government contracts?
  • Does it engage in revolving door government cronyism?

Some corporations have taken (and kept) a vow to operate responsibly. Here's some examples:

Better World Auto Club
The Check Gallery
Real Goods
Seventh Generation
SOS From Texas
Working Assets

Other corporations work to convince us that they're socially responsible while still engaging in irresponsible behavior. This is called "greenwashing". Here's some examples:

Monsanto versus Millions Against Monsanto
General Electric versus CorpWatch
Halliburton versus The Project On Government Oversight
Wal-Mart versus Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good For America?


Everything's Relative


Having said all this, judging a corporation is rarely as black & white as the examples above.

For example, ConAgra is a corporation so large that they own nearly 80 well-known food brands. Many of these brands, like Butterball and Armour, rely on environmentally-harmful and inhumane factory farms to produce their products. Factory farms also drive numerous family farms out of business each year.

ConAgra has also partnered with Monsantso to market genetically-modified plants, which have negative implications for our environment and health.

Yet, ConAgra also owns Lightlife. Lightlife makes vegetarian and vegan products using non-GMO (not genetically modified) soy. Every time you buy a Lightlife product, you're telling ConAgra that the only way they'll get your money is to provide you with animal-friendly, earth-friendly products. This is better than boycotting them completely, since it shows them the way to your wallet.

Below are some resources to help you sort out who's responsible & who's not:


Corporate Responsibility Resources


Corporate Accountability International (organization campaigns against corporate abuse)
The Ethical Consumer Boycotts List (emphasis is on UK consumers, but is still useful for all)
Responsible Shopper (database of responsible & irresponsible corporate actions)
Take Greenwash To The Cleaners (lists companies engaged in greenwashing)



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