Issues > Solutions
Shareholder proposals cover a wide range of investor concerns from governance to global risks. There is no single "right" perspective; the process allows investors of varied strategies to debate what's best for long-term value.
CEO Accountability
Some companies allow one person to serve as both CEO and Board Chair. This concentrates power without adequate oversight. Proposals push for independent board leadership to ensure checks and balances are in place.
Climate & Environmental Risk
Climate change creates real business risk. Flooding disrupts facilities. Extreme heat affects workers. Proposals push companies to disclose how they are managing these physical risks and meeting emissions reporting requirements.
Corporate Political Spending
Companies spend shareholder capital on lobbying, trade associations, and political causes. Proposals ask for clear disclosure of that spending. Without it, capital can be misused in ways that directly conflict with shareholder interests.
Supply Chain Resilience
Global supply chains carry hidden risks. Proposals ask companies to audit operations for forced labor, human rights abuses, and regulatory violations. Left unaddressed, these issues trigger lawsuits and serious reputational damage.
Employee & Community Harm
Unsafe working conditions create significant legal and regulatory exposure. Proposals surface these risks early. Without action, companies face lawsuits, heavy fines, and lasting loss of public trust.
Artificial Intelligence Technology
AI is reshaping how companies operate. Proposals ask management to demonstrate responsible deployment and ethical use. Companies that move fast without guardrails face serious reputational damage, customer backlash, and growing legal liability.
Shareholder Proposals in Action
Online Child Safety
In 2024, faith-based investors co-filed a proposal at Meta requesting annual reporting on child safety risks including cyberbullying and mental health harm to young users. It received 59.1% support from independent shareholders. Similar proposals followed at Alphabet and Apple, demonstrating broad investor concern.
Independent Board Chair
Institutional investors have filed proposals at JPMorgan Chase challenging the combined CEO and Board Chair role. 42.7% of shareholders voted in favor of separating the roles to strengthen independent board oversight. Similar proposals followed at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America with strong outcomes.
Opioid Crisis Oversight
In 2020, the Illinois State Treasurer co-filed a proposal at Johnson & Johnson requesting a review of opioid-related risks. The proposal received 60.9% support. Similar proposals were filed at McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and CVS Health. In 2022, these companies reached a $26 billion legal settlements over their role in fueling the opioid crisis.
AI & Environmental Risk
In 2025, investors filed proposals at Alphabet and Amazon pushing for transparency on AI-related water and energy consumption showing growing interest on this emerging issue. A similar proposal at Salesforce led the company to launch a dedicated water program as part of its updated sustainability strategy.
Worker Safety
In 2022, shareholders at Amazon filed a proposal requesting an independent audit of working conditions, citing injury rates significantly above the national average. The proposal received 48.9% support. Similar proposals have been filed at Tesla, pushing boards to demonstrate meaningful action on workplace safety.