Workplaces Value DEI

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 Dimentech, LLC Meredith Village Savings Bank Racial Unity Team
350 New Hampshire Disability Rights Center - NH Meridan Congregational Church Ragged Mountain Equipment
603 Forward DMS Remodelers Mindful Making & Design Rain for the Sahel and Sahara
900 Degrees Dover Children's Home MLK and Company Rakowsky Meditation
ABLE NH Easterseals NH, VT, ME & Farnum Molan Law Offices, PLLC READ TO ME Literary Arts
Adimab, LLC Economic Justice Mission Group, NH Conference Church of Christ Monadnock Conservancy Reaching Higher NH
AGG Consulting EcoPhotography LLC Monadnock Food Co-op Resilient Buildings Group, LLC
AHEAD, Inc. Educating for Good Monadnock Interfaith Project ReVision Energy
Aileen Dugan State Farm Insurance Erin McCabe Wellness Morneau Law Reis & Kirkland PLLC

Alexandra Chan Photography

Families in Transition Mountain Shadow Adventures Resilient Buildings Group, Inc.
Allgood Strategies LLC Fat Peach Farm, LLC NAMI New Hampshire Revolution
Altus Engineering Fidelity Investments

Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, Inc.

Richardson Media Group
American Friends Service Committee - NH Program Flamingos Coffee Bar Natural Dharma Fellowship Rights & Democracy NH
Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust Foothills Physical Therapy Naturesource Communications Rippleffect Consulting LLC
Amoskeag Health Forteng Designs Neighborhood Access

Rocket Science Rowing

Amy Conley Music Frontyard Law, PLLC NeighborWorks Southern NH Rooted by Stacey, LLC
Anastasia's Table, LLC Gale River Motel NEMO Equipment RSG
Appalachian Mountain Club Garland Mill New Directions Collaborative Saint Anselm College

Arts in Reach

Gateways Community Services New Fellowship Baptist Church Sarah K. Benning Studios
Ascentria Care Alliance Gibson's Bookstore New Futures Savings Bank of Walpole
Atlantic Media Productions Global Citizens Circle New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging School Administrative Unit 50
Backyard Concept, LLC Global Round Table Leadership New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast NH Permaculture
Ballantine Partners, LLC

GoodWork

New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.
BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC Granite Backcountry Alliance New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility Sheehan Phinney
Beechleaf Design

Granite Bay Connections

New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits Sheldon Pennoyer Architects
Bernstein Shur Granite Outdoor Association New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Shire Digital
Bi-State Primary Care Association Granite State College New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness Shtudy
Bill Maddocks Consulting Granite State Independent Living New Hampshire College and University Council Slingshot Ent.
Blasty Bough Brewing Company Granite State Oral Surgery, PLLC New Hampshire Community Action Partnerships Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests
Boloco Granite State Organizing Project New Hampshire Community Loan Fund SOS Recovery Community Organization
Bona Fide Green Goods Granite United Way New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities

South Central Public Health Network

Brewbakers Greater Nashua Area Branch NAACP New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition Southern New Hampshire University
Brewster Academy Greater Seacoast Community Health New Hampshire Legal Assistance Square Properties
Brown & Company Design Hanover Co-op Food Stores & Auto Service Centers New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp St. Joseph Hospital
Bruss Construction Management Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation New Hampshire News Views & Blues

St. Paul's School

Burton Strategies Heartwood Media New Hampshire Peace Action Sterndale Strategic LLC
Business Decision Services Henry Whipple House New Hampshire Psychiatric Society Stibler Associates
C & S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. Homefree, LLC New Hampshire Public Health Association Stonyfield Organic
Caldwell Law HR State Council of New Hampshire New Hampshire Rivers Council Stratus Telecom LLC
Campus Compact for New Hampshire Hvizda Realty Group New Hampshire Trust Company Sunrise Labs
Centerbury Center Bed and Breakfast LLC Hypersoft, Inc. New Hampshire Womens Foundation Sunset Hill Educational Institute
Canterbury Shaker Village Hypertherm, Inc. New Hampshire Youth Movement Sustainable Futures Consulting
Capitol Area Public Health Network Image 4 New Sky Productions Sweaty Turtle Entertainment
Carroll County Coalition for Public Health ISR with Deb Rossetti NFI North Synchrony Advisors, LLC
Carsey School of Public Policy, UNH JLA Analytics, LLC Nixon Peabody The Black History Trail of New Hampshire
Cayena Capital Management, LLC

JSA Design

Norris Cotton Cancer Center The Cohen Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies
Center for Women & Enterprise John Benford Photography LLC North Country Climbing Center

The Collector's Eye

Centrus Digital Kate Johnson, Consultant Northeast Delta Dental

The Duprey Companies

Chapel+Main Brewpub

Keene State College Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire The Edgewood Centre
Cheshire County TV Kieschnick Consulting Services Northroad Wood Signs The Front Door Agency
Cheshire Garden Kilwins Portsmouth Northwood Congregational Church The Nature Conservancy
Cheshire Housing Trust Kimball Union Academy Organizational Ignition

The Nutrition Counseling Center

Cheshire Medical Center Lakes Region Community Developers Owl & Pen LLC The University of New Hampshire
City Year New Hampshire Lamprey Health Care Oyster River Cooperative School District Throwback Brewery
Clean Water Action League of Conservation Voters Partnered Success College & Life Skills Coaching Timberland
Colby-Sawyer College Littleton Food Co-op Penumbra T.L. Hill Group
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County Live Free Heating & Cooling PeopleSense Consulting TOP Wellness Inc.
Concord Food Co-op Lucky's Coffee Garage Perform Well Tufts Health Plan & Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Concord School District Luminta, LLC Performance Imaging, Inc. United Way of Greater Nashua
Conservation Law Foundation MacDowell Persimmon Consulting, LLC University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Contract Support Group Mack Hill Riding Academy LLC Pete & Gerry's Organics Upper Merrimack Watershed Association
Convergent Technical Solutions LLC MAKE Architects Petersen Engineering Velcro USA Inc
Cornerstone Financial Planning Manchester Community Action Coalition Pierce Atwood, LLP Vida Cantina
Cornerstone Tree Care Mascoma Bank Placework W.S. Badger & Company
CUP OF JOE MasterPeace Massage Plymouth State University Watson International Consulting
Darkfin Studios MAYO Design Portsmouth Music and Arts Center West Central Behavioral Health
Dartmouth College McLane Middleton, PA Portsmouth School Board Wheelhouse Web Solutions
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health McLean Communications Prime Buchholz Worthen Industries
David Baum Associates MegaFood Prince Communications Yahso Jamaican Grille
Davis Pinney Inc.   Proximity Lab Yankee Publishing
Deep Blue Compass     YWCA New Hampshire