Summary by Moomoo AI
Inspire Investing, LLC, along with over 100 investors and financial professionals managing over $250 billion in assets, has urged shareholders of Merck & Co., Inc. to vote in favor of a proposal titled 'Report on Respecting Workplace Civil Liberties.' The proposal, submitted by Bowyer Research, calls for increased transparency and evaluation of the company's policies on their impact on employees' civil liberties. The group argues that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which U.S. companies spend approximately $8 billion annually on, have been counterproductive and divisive, citing various sources including a survey by Alliance Defending Freedom and reports from Gallup and the UK government. They contend that DEI programs have led to workplace division and increased legal and financial risks for companies. The proposal aims to identify these risks and prevent potential detriment to the company and its shareholders.