Press Release: COMCAST/NBC UNIVERSAL MANAGEMENT SAYS “NO PLACE” FOR ABUSE OF “HUMAN DIGNITY,” BUT THEN VOTES TO BLOCK SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTION TO PROTECT WOMEN IN ITS WORKPLACE
Press Release: COMCAST/NBC UNIVERSAL MANAGEMENT SAYS “NO PLACE” FOR ABUSE OF “HUMAN DIGNITY,” BUT THEN VOTES TO BLOCK SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTION TO PROTECT WOMEN IN ITS WORKPLACE
June 3, 2020 by Natasha Lamb for Arjuna Capital
While Shareholders Await Final Vote Tally, Hypocrisy of Comcast/NBCUniversal Brian Roberts Is Noted in Statement Delivered Minutes Before Management-Dominated Vote Against Independent Investigation of Sexual Harassment at Media Giant.
PHILADELPHIA – In the wake of the shareholder vote today at Comcast/NBCUniversal on a resolution on a call for an independent investigation into the company’s failures to prevent workplace sexual harassment, the sponsors of the resolution issued the following statements today:
Natasha Lamb, managing partner, Arjuna Capital, said: “The cynical grandstanding today by Comcast/NBCUniversal Chairman Brian Roberts about the ‘truly heartbreaking and tragic’ issues facing a ‘society still struggling with issues that are so core to human dignity’ are precisely the reason why the Roberts family should have used its 33 percent voting rights in Comcast/NBCUniversal to address concerns about systemic sexual harassment at the media giant. Instead, minutes after Roberts made his token acknowledgment of the ongoing social turmoil and said ‘injustice” has ‘no place and cannot be tolerated,’ he proceeded to send the message to women workers at Comcast/NBCUniversal that they are not covered by that statement. This is just another sign that Comcast/NBCUniversal management does not get it and that shareholders will continue to see lawsuits, reputational damage, and other risks arising from a dysfunctional corporate culture that turns a blind eye to sexual harassment.”
“It is deeply disappointing that Comcast leadership rejected calls from shareholders to conduct an independent investigation into workplace harassment across the network. Shareholders demanded accountability and Comcast’s culture of abuse still poses a significant risk to the NBC Universal brand and shareholder value. It’s time for real action – and that starts with learning the full extent of the problem,” said Shaunna Thomas, Executive Director of UltraViolet. “There is more work to be done, and we will continue to push for the network to adopt policies that protect its employees.”
To learn more about concerns of sexual harassment at Comcast/NBCUniversal ranging from Matt Lauer to Simon Cowell to Comcast call centers, read here.
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Arjuna Capital is a sustainable and impact investment firm that works with high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions to invest with a lens toward Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk and opportunity. Lamb and Arjuna Capital have been recognized for using shareholder resolutions to promote gender and racial pay equity in the tech, banking, and retail sectors. Natasha Lamb was named to the “Bloomberg 50” list of influencers who defined global business in 2017. For more information, visit www.ArjunaCapital.com.
UltraViolet is a community of more than one million people that drives feminist cultural and political change. Through people power and strategic advocacy, we work to improve the lives of women and girls of all identities and backgrounds, and all people impacted by sexism, by dismantling discrimination and creating a cost for sexism.
CONTACT:
(Arjuna Capital) Alexander Frank | 703-276-3264 | afrank@hastingsgroup.com
(UltraViolet) Anna Zuccaro | 914-523-9145 | anna@unbendablemedia.com