New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility stands in opposition to language of House Bill 544, An Act Relative to the propagation of divisive concepts, which is now amended to the budget in HB 2.  Our vision, New Hampshire will thrive when we engage the power of business and our people to build a sustainable and prosperous state for all, inspires us to stand together to achieve our best.  The ambiguous language of HB 544 included in the budget amendment may appear to be supportive of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), but its intent is to restrict businesses that contract with the state and organizations receiving funding from the state, from offering DEI training to employees as they deem appropriate.

We know that diversity and inclusion build workplace cultures that thrive because of the innovative ideas and supportive environment that are built on inclusion.  We invite businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions around the state to sign onto this letter and raise your voice in support of open and honest exploration of racism and sexism, and in opposition to the restrictions within HB 544’s language and its inclusion in the House Budget.

An Open Letter Opposing the Language of House Bill 544 to:

State Representatives
State Senators
Governor Christopher T. Sununu

New Hampshire businesses have been challenged on many levels throughout the pandemic, but the resiliency, loyalty and creativity of our employees have been the critical factors in our ability to survive.   We believe that if enacted HB 544, An Act Relative to the propagation of divisive concepts, will have a chilling impact on our workplaces and on the business climate in New Hampshire, and we raise our voices in opposition to it.  Our experience has shown that:

  • Diverse and inclusive work environments support innovative thinking and problem solving.  We value the opportunities that arise from different perspectives and open-minded inquiry.  The success of New Hampshire businesses depends on the ability to attract diverse generational, gender and racial employee groups at all levels within our organizations, and we must constantly work to create an environment that makes all employees feel empowered in their roles. 
  • Our businesses, large and small, have seen that inclusive work environments dramatically increase employee retention, which directly impacts our financial bottom line.  Inclusive work environments must be fostered, including enabling open and honest discussions about racism and sexism, implicit bias and how we can eliminate structural racism.
  • As a geographically small state, we constantly compete with neighboring states to attract the best talent.  Creating the image that New Hampshire is regressive and intolerant puts us at an economic disadvantage.
  • We value each of our employees and their diverse backgrounds.  We strive to foster an environment that lifts the human spirit and helps individuals to achieve their fullest potential within our workplaces and our communities.  This bill would diminish our ability to do so.

House Bill 544 is antithetical to all of these principles.  The now-rescinded federal executive order that this bill seems to emulate was rightly opposed by business groups including the US Chamber of Commerce. HB 544 would not only harm the ability of New Hampshire businesses to be competitive, it would severely harm the state’s image as business-friendly, since it stifles the ability of organizations who do business with the state to foster diverse workforces as they see fit.

It is important to explore, inquire and learn from our past as we move to the future.  We cannot shy away from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training.  It is critical to our understanding and ability to build strong workplaces.

We believe that New Hampshire is poised to thrive as we emerge from the pandemic.  HB 544’s language will stymy the brand image of our businesses as well as the state’s innovative spirit and economic opportunities.  We believe that HB 544 disadvantages our businesses and tarnishes New Hampshire’s future.

We strongly urge you, our elected representatives, to protect the state, its people, and its businesses from this dangerous and damaging legislation.

Bolded text indicates >100 employees

36 Creative

Granite Backcountry Alliance

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire

350 New Hampshire

Granite Bay Connections

Northroad Wood Signs

603 Forward

Granite Outdoor Association

Northwood Congregational Church

900 Degrees

Granite State College

Organizational Ignition

ABLE NH

Granite State Independent Living

Owl & Pen LLC

Adimab, LLC

Granite State Oral Surgery, PLLC

Oyster River Cooperative School District

AGG Consulting

Granite State Organizing Project

Partnered Success College & Life Skills Coaching

AHEAD, Inc.

Granite United Way

Penumbra

Aileen Dugan State Farm Insurance

Greater Nashua Area Branch NAACP

PeopleSense Consulting

Alexandra Chan Photography

Greater Seacoast Community Health

Perform Well

Allgood Strategies LLC

Hanover Co-op Food Stores & Auto Service Centers

Performance Imaging, Inc.

Altus Engineering

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

Persimmon Consulting, LLC

American Friends Service Committee - NH Program

Heartwood Media

Pete & Gerry's Organics

Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust

Henry Whipple House

Petersen Engineering

Amoskeag Health

Homefree, LLC

Pierce Atwood, LLP

Amy Conley Music

HR State Council of New Hampshire

Placework

Anastasia's Table, LLC

Hvizda Realty Group

Plymouth State University

Appalachian Mountain Club

Hypersoft, Inc.

Portsmouth Music and Arts Center

Arts in Reach

Hypertherm, Inc.

Portsmouth School Board

Ascentria Care Alliance

Image 4

Prime Buchholz

Atlantic Media Productions

ISR with Deb Rossetti

Prince Communications

Backyard Concept, LLC

JLA Analytics, LLC

Proximity Lab

Ballantine Partners, LLC

JSA Design

Racial Unity Team

BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC

John Benford Photography LLC

Ragged Mountain Equipment

Beechleaf Design

Kate Johnson, Consultant

Rain for the Sahel and Sahara

Bernstein Shur

Keene State College

Rakowsky Meditation

Bi-State Primary Care Association

Kieschnick Consulting Services

READ TO ME Literary Arts

Bill Maddocks Consulting

Kilwins Portsmouth

Reaching Higher NH

Blasty Bough Brewing Company

Kimball Union Academy

Resilient Buildings Group, LLC

Boloco

Lakes Region Community Developers

ReVision Energy

Bona Fide Green Goods

Lamprey Health Care

Reis & Kirkland PLLC

Brewbakers

League of Conservation Voters

Resilient Buildings Group, Inc.

Brewster Academy

Littleton Food Co-op

Revolution

Brown & Company Design

Live Free Heating & Cooling

Richardson Media Group

Bruss Construction Management

Lucky's Coffee Garage

Rights & Democracy NH

Burton Strategies

Luminta, LLC

Rippleffect Consulting LLC

Business Decision Services

MacDowell

Rocket Science Rowing

C & S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.

Mack Hill Riding Academy LLC

Rooted by Stacey, LLC

Caldwell Law

MAKE Architects

RSG

Campus Compact for New Hampshire

Manchester Community Action Coalition

Saint Anselm College

Centerbury Center Bed and Breakfast LLC

Mascoma Bank

Sarah K. Benning Studios

Canterbury Shaker Village

MasterPeace Massage

Savings Bank of Walpole

Capitol Area Public Health Network

MAYO Design

School Administrative Unit 50

Carroll County Coalition for Public Health

McLane Middleton, PA

Seacoast NH Permaculture

Carsey School of Public Policy, UNH

McLean Communications

Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.

Cayena Capital Management, LLC

MegaFood

Sheehan Phinney

Center for Women & Enterprise

Meredith Village Savings Bank

Sheldon Pennoyer Architects

Centrus Digital

Meridan Congregational Church

Shire Digital

Chapel+Main Brewpub

Mindful Making & Design

Shtudy

Cheshire County TV

MLK and Company

Slingshot Ent.

Cheshire Garden

Molan Law Offices, PLLC

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

Cheshire Housing Trust

Monadnock Conservancy

SOS Recovery Community Organization

Cheshire Medical Center

Monadnock Food Co-op

South Central Public Health Network

City Year New Hampshire

Monadnock Interfaith Project

Southern New Hampshire University

Clean Water Action

Morneau Law

Square Properties

Colby-Sawyer College

Mountain Shadow Adventures

St. Joseph Hospital

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County

NAMI New Hampshire

St. Paul's School

Concord Food Co-op

Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, Inc.

Sterndale Strategic LLC

Concord School District

Natural Dharma Fellowship

Stibler Associates

Conservation Law Foundation

Naturesource Communications

Stonyfield Organic

Contract Support Group

Neighborhood Access

Stratus Telecom LLC

Convergent Technical Solutions LLC

NeighborWorks Southern NH

Sunrise Labs

Cornerstone Financial Planning

NEMO Equipment

Sunset Hill Educational Institute

Cornerstone Tree Care

New Directions Collaborative

Sustainable Futures Consulting

CUP OF JOE

New Fellowship Baptist Church

Sweaty Turtle Entertainment

Darkfin Studios

New Futures

Synchrony Advisors, LLC

Dartmouth College

New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging

The Black History Trail of New Hampshire

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

New Hampshire Audubon

The Cohen Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies

David Baum Associates

New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts

The Collector's Eye

Davis Pinney Inc.

New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility

The Duprey Companies

Deep Blue Compass

New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits

The Edgewood Centre

Dimentech, LLC

New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

The Front Door Agency

Disability Rights Center - NH

New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness

The Nature Conservancy

DMS Remodelers

New Hampshire College and University Council

The Nutrition Counseling Center

Dover Children's Home

New Hampshire Community Action Partnerships

The University of New Hampshire

Easterseals NH, VT, ME & Farnum

New Hampshire Community Loan Fund

Throwback Brewery

Economic Justice Mission Group, NH Conference Church of Christ

New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities

Timberland

EcoPhotography LLC

New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition

T.L. Hill Group

Educating for Good

New Hampshire Legal Assistance

TOP Wellness Inc.

Erin McCabe Wellness

New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp

Tufts Health Plan & Tufts Health Plan Foundation

Families in Transition

New Hampshire News Views & Blues

United Way of Greater Nashua

Fat Peach Farm, LLC

New Hampshire Peace Action

University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Fidelity Investments

New Hampshire Psychiatric Society

Upper Merrimack Watershed Association

Flamingos Coffee Bar

New Hampshire Public Health Association

Velcro USA Inc

Foothills Physical Therapy

New Hampshire Rivers Council

Vida Cantina

Forteng Designs

New Hampshire Trust Company

W.S. Badger & Company

Frontyard Law, PLLC

New Hampshire Womens Foundation

Watson International Consulting

Gale River Motel

New Hampshire Youth Movement

West Central Behavioral Health

Garland Mill

New Sky Productions

Wheelhouse Web Solutions

Gateways Community Services

NFI North

Worthen Industries

Gibson's Bookstore

Nixon Peabody

Yahso Jamaican Grille

Global Citizens Circle

Norris Cotton Cancer Center

Yankee Publishing

Global Round Table Leadership

North Country Climbing Center

YWCA New Hampshire

GoodWork

Northeast Delta Dental