Company: SOJE
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0000092122-25-000032
Chunk: 105

Company: SOUTHERN CO
Filing Date: 2025-03-31
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 105
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 reported that " Diversity Goals Are Disappearing from Companies' Annual Reports." 7 And numerous companies are voluntarily removing DEI initiatives entirely in response to sustained customer dissatisfaction and public pressure. 8 In light of these risks, the Company must take immediate steps to assess potential shortcomings and allay these concerns.

Resolved: Shareholders request the Board of Directors conduct an evaluation and issue a civil rights and non-discrimination report within the next year, at reasonable cost and excluding proprietary and confidential information, evaluating how Southern Company's policies and practices impact employees and prospective employees based on their race, color, religion (including religious views), sex, national origin, or political views, and the risks those impacts present to Southern Company's business.

1 https://www.viewpointdiversityscore.org/

2 https://www.southerncompany.com/content/dam/southerncompany/sustainability/pdfs/our-people/human-capital-management-factsheet.pdf#: :text=Diversity%2C%20equity%20&%20inclusion%200ur%20strategy%20for,engage%2C%20include%20and%20retain%20a%20diverse%20workforce

3 https://www.southerncompany.info/htmlemail/culture.pdf

4 https://www.viewpointdiversityscore.org/polling

5 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/diversity-equity-dei-companies-blum-2040b173

6 https://econjwatch.org/artides/mckinsey-s-diversity-matters-delivers-wins-results-revisited

7 https://www.wsj.com/business/diversity-goals-are-disappearing-from-companies-annual-reports-459d1ef3

8 https://www .dailymaiI.co.uk/news/article-13812241/american-brand-dei-rules-backlash.htmI

#### Board’s Recommendation and Statement
The Board has carefully considered this proposal and recommends that you vote AGAINST the proposal for the reasons described below.

Southern’s existing policies, processes and risk oversight make the evaluation and report sought by this proposal unnecessary.

Our Code of Ethics states that we treat each other with fairness, respect and dignity and that we value and encourage different ideas and points of view. It also states that we value and encourage citizenship and that employees have the freedom to choose whether or not to support political candidates, parties or positions, or to engage in political activities.

Each of our operating subsidiaries