Companies

Adidas

clothing

42 😐

Adidas is a German sportswear manufacturer that has selected suppliers subjecting employees to sweatshop-like conditions [1] and whose head of HR resigned after inaction against racial discrimination within the company [2].

ALDI

supermarket

60 😊

Aldi, a German supermarket chain, has cut emissions substantially through renewable energy and efficiency measures [1], but has been accused of systemic wage theft by requiring employees to work unpaid before shifts [2][3]. The company was sued for misclassifying managers to avoid overtime pay [2], and potentially underpaid over 20,000 workers more than $150 million [3].

Amazon

retail

5 👺

Amazon is an American online retail and tech conglomerate which has funded climate change denial groups [1], issued propaganda to local news stations [2][3], sent thousands of items of unused stock to landfill [4][5], avoided billions in tax [6], violated privacy laws [7][8], discriminated against black and female employees [9][10], mistreated workers [11][12], aggressively opposed unionisation [13][14][15] and engaged in anticompetitive practices [16][17][18].

Apple

tech

55 😐

Apple is an American technology company credited with innovation in personal computing [1] which has a generally pro-consumer stance on privacy [2][3][4] and a proactive climate policy [5][6][7]. Apple has engaged in anti-competetive practices [8], its factories have seen abusive working conditions [9][10], and its climate claims have been called misleading [11].

Barclays

bank

20 😡

Barclays is a UK-based bank which is Europe's largest funder of fracking and coal [1], having invested $85 billion into fossil fuels and $24 billion into expansion. Among other controversies, Barclays has been fined £500 million for tax avoidance by the Treasury [2], illegally manipulated the price of gold [3], attempted to manipulate the US energy market [4], and conducted workplace surveillance on its staff [5].

Chipotle

restaurant

40 😐

Chiptole is an American fast food company that has underpaid its employees [1] who often face unacceptable working conditions [2]. Chiptole's poor food standards have made thousands of people sick [3] and the company has failed to report on its sustainability practices [4].

Domino's

fast food

45 😐

Domino's is an American pizza brand that has been accused of exploiting workers [1].

FedEx

ecommerce

45 😐

Fedex is an American shipping and logistics company that spends tens of millions of dollars lobbying the federal government [1], benefitted from tax cuts without subsequently increasing investment as promised [2], distributed drugs without prescriptions [3], and pressured employees into working through the pandemic even if they were sick [4]. Fedex has made significant emissions savings through fuel conservation programs [5] but their 2021 annual report still states that they may struggle to reach their climate targets [6].

Five Guys

restaurant

40 😐

Five Guys, a American burger chain, has faced allegations of gender-based pay discrimination [1], labor violations including off-the-clock work and denied breaks [2], and discrimination against an employee with HIV [3]. The company has also been subject to sexual harassment lawsuits, with former employees claiming they were subjected to hostile work environments [4].

IKEA

retail

15 👺

Ikea is a Swedish furniture manufacturer that has sourced timber from illegal logging [1][2], and whose furniture designs have led to the deaths of children [3]. Ikea France was found illegally spying on employees [4], Ikea stores have been built over historic buildings and tombs [5][6], and the founder of Ikea was involved with Nazi groups [7].

John Lewis

retail

45 😐

John Lewis is a British retailer which violated minimum wage regulations, underpaying around 20,000 workers by approximately £941,356 between 2011 and 2018 [1].

Lidl

supermarket

30 😡

Lidl is owned by schwarz-gruppe.

Mango

clothing

25 😡

Mango, a Spanish fashion brand, has been accused of copying a bag design from a small creator [1], and has been criticized for promoting unhealthy body image by labeling sizes 40-52 as a separate "Violeta" line for "curvy" women [2]. Mango has refused to join the compensation efforts for victims of the Rana Plaza factory collapse that killed over 1,100 workers in its supply chain [3][4].

Marks & Spencer

supermarket

40 😐

Marks & Spencer's supply chain has been criticized for labor abuses like forced overtime, denial of breaks, and underage workers at factories in Cambodia and elsewhere [1], as well as underpaying workers on berry farms supplying its groceries [2]. The company has faced protests over stocking Israeli goods [3] and an Oxfam report found poverty wages, discrimination, and health issues in its food and footwear supply chains despite audits clearing the company [4].

Mitchells & Butlers

restaurant

45 😐

Mitchells & Butlers, a British pub operator and FTSE 250 company, has faced criticism for unethical practices including failing to pay £565,094.87 in minimum wage to 16,187 employees [1], and implementing a tip-sharing system that can result in waiting staff earning below minimum wage [2]. Mitchells & Butlers ordered the killing of an ancient oak near one of their pubs [3].

Monster Energy

beverages

35 😡

Monster Energy is an American energy drinks manufacturer that has been accused of cultivating an abusive and discriminatory work environment, involving allegations of sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation [1][2]. Their drinks may pose health risks, potentially masking alcohol’s effects and contributing to cardiac and psychiatric issues [3][4][5].

Papa John's

fast food

40 😐

Papa John's is an American pizza chain which has faced allegations of sexual harassment and racism by its founder and former CEO [1][2]. The company has been described as having a toxic atmosphere, with instances of sexism and racist language used by its executives [3].

PizzaExpress

restaurant

46 😐

PizzaExpress is a British restaurant chain that has taken money from customer tips to supplement wages, reducing the amount going to waiting staff [1][2]. The company also fired staff during the pandemic when enployees were most vulnerable, before rehiring on worse contracts [2].

Pret a Manger

restaurant

35 😡

Pret a Manger is owned by JAB Holding Company.

Primark

fast fashion

25 😡

Primark, a British fast fashion giant, has been accused of underpaying garment workers in its supply chain, employing undocumented immigrants below minimum wage, and imprisoning workers for participating in protests against Myanmar's military coup [1][2][3]. The company has also faced criticism for promoting sexist messaging on children's clothing and removing ethical branding following investigations into labor violations [2][3].

Rockstar

video games

50 😐

Rockstar is owned by take-two.

Sainsbury's

supermarket

40 😐

Sainsbury's has faced criticism for declining to pay contracted workers a living wage and for excessive executive compensation, with its CEO receiving £3.8m while rejecting calls to ensure all workers earn a living wage [1]. Investigations have uncovered allegations of forced labor, excessive overtime, abuse, and poor working conditions in factories producing clothing for Sainsbury's [2], and the company threatened legal action against a small business named Singhsbury's [3].

Shake Shack

fast food

40 😐

Shake Shack is an American fast food chain that has agreed to a $6 million class action lawsuit settlement for failing to provide consistent and lawful schedules to New York City employees, violating the city's Fair Workweek Law [1]. The company has also been ordered to pay $20,000 to a former employee for gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on gender identity and expression, and has been accused of denying managers overtime pay [2][3]. Additionally, Shake Shack's connection to a bakery whose owners support a controversial political figure has led to criticism and calls for a boycott of the chain [4].

Starbucks

restaurant

35 😡

Starbucks is an American coffee shop chain that has prolifically avoided tax [1][2], deprived Ethiopian farmers of their rightful pay [3] and enforces discriminatory pay discrepancies on its employees based on race [4]. Starbucks has engaged in anti-union practices [5][6] and has worked closely with the Anti-Defamation League [7].

Subway

fast food

25 😡

Subway, a fast-food chain, has been found to have underpaid workers at several franchises across Australia, resulting in over $81,000 in unpaid wages for 167 current and former employees [1]. Subway has also been listed as an International Sponsor of War by Ukraine for continuing operations in Russia [2].

Tesla

electric vehicles

37 😡

Tesla is an American automotive and sustainable energy company which is the world's biggest manufacturer of electric vehicles [1] and is a major installer of solar power systems [2] and battery storage [3]. Tesla has engaged in anti-union practices [4], received claims of workplace sexual harassment [5], committed environmental waste violations [6], and been accused of anticompetitive repair policies in several lawsuits [7], while its head Elon Musk has endorsed far-right political parties [8].

Toyota

cars

35 😡

Toyota is a Japanese automaker that has faced various ethical issues, including the death of an employee from overwork [1], a $180 million settlement for violating environmental standards [2], rigging vehicles to perform better in crash tests [3], and cheating in emissions testing [4].

Uber

tech

30 😡

Uber is an American tech company that refuses to provide standard employee protections to its drivers [1], misled drivers about potential earnings [4], underpaid its drivers [5], and has had a culture of workplace sexual harassment [2][3]. Uber has avoided taxes using offshore companies [6], has discriminated against disabled passengers [7], and has conducted invasive surveillance on its passengers' journey data [8].

Uniqlo

clothing

25 😡

Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing retailer that has repeatedly exhibited abuse of its workers globally [1][2][3][4], sourced materials stemming from forced labour [5] and produced adverts that trivialised the trauma of victims of sex slavery [6]. Uniqlo initially decided to keep operating in Russia but then reversed its decision [7].

Wagamama

restaurant

40 😐

Wagamama is owned by apollo-global-management.

Walmart

supermarket

20 😡

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has been accused of destroying Native American burial grounds [1], violating labor laws by disciplining protesting workers [2], illegally employing minors and denying breaks [3], and fueling the opioid crisis through irresponsible pharmaceutical practices [4].

Yum! Brands

fast food

20 😡

Yum Brands is an American fast food company which owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Its supply chains have involved mass animal cruelty [1][3] and is the biggest killer of chickens globally [2], it has fired employees for speaking out after being sexually abused [4] and illegally underpaid staff [5].