New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund), sent letters to 50 major portfolio companies, including Tesla Inc., Meta Platforms Inc, Microsoft Corp. and NIKE Inc., urging them to join the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Workplace Pledge to Fight Antisemitism. DiNapoli announced his action Saturday night at the Stand With Israel event at the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach. The event featured a keynote address by internationally known Rabbi Marc Schneier on unity and solidarity.
In addition to his letters to the 50 companies, DiNapoli called on the rest of the Fund’s portfolio companies to join the ADL pledge.
“The dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States and the rest of the world is a cause for alarm,” DiNapoli said. “Companies need to take steps to support Jewish employees and fight antisemitism by eliminating hate and bias and fostering a culture of inclusion. Employees have a right to a safe and secure workplace, free from discrimination and harassment. Protecting that right is fundamental to the success of any organization. Companies that ignore these issues or only pay lip service to protecting their employees put themselves, and their shareholders, at risk.”
When joining the Workplace Pledge to Fight Antisemitism, organizations agree to actively prevent antisemitism in their workplaces, support Jewish employees, provide religious accommodations for employees, and speak out against antisemitism. According to the Pew Research Center, Jews face a higher prevalence of religious discrimination compared to other religious groups. In October, the ADL reported a nearly 400% year-over-year increase in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas led terrorist attacks against Israel on Oct. 7.
Of the Fund’s top 50 holdings, only Alphabet Inc., Accenture Plc and S&P Global Inc., have signed on to the pledge.
The ADL Workplace Pledge to Fight Antisemitism
Full list of the companies receiving the letter
DiNapoli also reported that the Fund has invested an additional $70 million in State of Israel Bonds since the Oct. 7 attack.
New York State Common Retirement Fund
The New York State Common Retirement Fund is one of the largest public pension funds in the United States. The Fund holds and invests the assets of the New York State and Local Retirement System on behalf of more than one million state and local government employees and retirees and their beneficiaries. It has consistently been ranked as one of the best managed and best funded plans in the nation.