The criteria used were similar to those used by so-called ethical investment funds.

BBC: US pension fund quits Asian countries

And in February, the Church of England sold its shares in Vedanta, saying that to do otherwise would be inconsistent with its ethical investment policy.

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Since employees are already dependent upon their employers for living wages, furthering the economic dependency of employees upon their employers by offering company stock as an option within a 401k is not defensible from an ethical, moral or even investment-diversification perspective.

FORBES: Can You Trust Your Employer's 401(k) Plan? Not If Company Stock Is An Option.