How woke is Amgen?

Introduction

Amgen, a leader in biotechnology, actively champions progressive initiatives and diversity-focused programs that reveal its strong alignment with social justice and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) principles. From race-specific philanthropic efforts to LGBTQ+ celebrations, Amgen has embedded social justice into its corporate culture, raising concerns about merit-based policies, free speech, and ideological bias. 

This review unpacks Amgen’s financial contributions, DEI priorities, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and marketing stance, spotlighting meritocracy and workplace inclusivity implications.

Financial Contributions to Progressive Causes

Amgen has dedicated significant resources to racial justice, with initiatives rooted in progressive ideology. Following the George Floyd incident, Amgen pledged $7.5 million toward causes advancing racial justice and educational access for Black students. According to the company, “Following the murder of George Floyd, the Amgen Foundation committed $7.5 million to support racial justice and equal opportunity initiatives, impacting hundreds of Black students and community-based organizations.” 

This substantial allocation demonstrates Amgen’s commitment to enhance health equity and empower historically underserved communities. While these contributions may appear benevolent, they underscore a preference for race-based philanthropy over more universally inclusive approaches. 

Prioritization of DEI Policies

Amgen’s DEI policies highlight demographic representation, particularly across gender, race, and ethnicity. According to their 2023 Workforce Diversity Report, Amgen is committed to “diverse representation across gender, race, and ethnicity to ensure a culture that values all perspectives and identities.” 

This focus on DEI is intended to reflect the communities Amgen serves, as emphasized in its DEI progress report: “At Amgen, diversity, inclusion, and belonging are central to our purpose and culture. Our progress report highlights our goals and the steps we are taking to create a workforce that reflects the diverse world we serve.”

While these policies promote a workplace reflective of varied backgrounds, they overlook qualifications and merit in hiring practices, instead prioritizing diversity metrics. The emphasis on demographic benchmarks suggests that identity might play a more significant role than skills or experience, raising concerns about whether the company’s DEI approach compromises meritocracy for ideological alignment.

Mandatory Training Sessions

While specifics on Amgen’s training content are not disclosed, their strong DEI stance suggests that employees likely participate in sessions focused on unconscious bias, inclusivity, or potentially critical race theory (CRT). 

Support for LGBTQ+ Initiatives

Amgen is a visible supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, dedicating substantial efforts to celebrate and integrate LGBTQ+ employees and initiatives into its corporate culture. Pride Month events are a focal point, with Amgen stating, “Pride Month at Amgen is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of our LGBTQ+ colleagues, and we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.” 

Furthermore, Amgen stresses its daily commitment to this cause, asserting, “We stand with the LGBTQ+ community not only during Pride Month but every day, promoting allyship and understanding within our teams and beyond.” While supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion aligns with promoting a welcoming environment, Amgen’s pronounced focus on specific identity groups fosters division, overshadowing a universally inclusive workplace ethos.

Marketing and Branding

Amgen’s marketing strategy centers around ethical responsibility, reflecting a socially conscious approach to outreach. As their marketing policies outline, Amgen stresses, “Our approach to responsible marketing reflects our commitment to providing accurate, science-based information, and we ensure our communications align with our ethical values.”

By promoting “responsible marketing,” Amgen aligns its messaging with broader corporate ethics. Yet, this language is often synonymous with woke ideology in highlighting values-based rather than purely fact-driven marketing. While responsible communication is commendable, it can be interpreted as an implicit endorsement of an ideologically biased narrative. 

Conclusion

Amgen’s commitment to DEI, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ initiatives positions the company within the woke framework. Through significant financial contributions to progressive causes, diversity-driven hiring policies, and extensive support for LGBTQ+ programs, Amgen reveals an organizational bias toward social justice ideology, potentially at the expense of merit-based policies and viewpoint diversity. 

This review underscores the importance of balancing inclusivity with a commitment to meritocracy and freedom of thought, fostering a work culture that embraces all perspectives without ideological coercion.