Company: GWW
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000277135-25-000010
Chunk: 17

Company: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 17
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 in immigration policies may impair our ability to recruit and hire technical and professional talent globally. Further, failure to successfully hire executives and key team members or adequately plan for the succession, transition, and assimilation of executive leaders and team members in key roles, or to plan for the loss of executives and key team members, could adversely affect Grainger's business results and financial condition. 
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Grainger’s continued success is substantially dependent on positive perceptions of Grainger’s reputation.
One of the reasons customers choose to do business with Grainger and team members choose Grainger as a place of employment is the reputation that Grainger has built over many years. Grainger devotes time and resources to initiatives that align with its corporate values and are designed to strengthen its business and protect and preserve its reputation. These efforts include maintaining high standards of product quality and safety, ethical business practices, strong customer relationships, operational reliability, and a commitment to providing a positive workplace environment. These programs could be challenging to implement and costly to maintain, and Grainger’s actual or perceived failure to achieve its goals or uphold its commitments could adversely affect its reputation, business, and financial performance.
To be successful in the future, Grainger must continue to preserve, grow and leverage the value of Grainger’s brand. Reputational value is based in large part on perceptions of subjective qualities. An isolated incident, or the aggregate effect of individually insignificant incidents, negative or inaccurate postings, articles, or comments on social media or the internet can erode trust and confidence, particularly if they result in adverse publicity, governmental investigations or litigation, and as a result, could tarnish Grainger’s brand and lead to adverse effects on Grainger’s business.
Grainger’s disclosures related to environmental and social matters expose it to risks that could adversely affect its reputation and performance.
Grainger has established and publicly announced environmental and social programs, including its efforts to address climate change, human rights, and an inclusive workplace. These statements reflect its current plans and are not guarantees that Grainger will be able to achieve them. Grainger’s pursuit of or inability to update, achieve, or accurately report its goals could damage its reputation, financial performance, and growth, leading to increased scrutiny from customers, enforcement authorities, and other various stakeholders and potential risks related to "anti-ESG sentiment", such as reputational harm, lawsuits, or market access restrictions. 
Grainger’s ability to achieve any environmental or social change is subject to numerous risks, some of which are outside of its control