UPDATE: JPMorgan Chase, which originally declined comment, sent a statement after this story published. See that at the bottom of the article.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – House Bill 616, which would restrict certain teachings on race, gender and diversity in Ohio’s K-12 schools, has the attention of some of the Columbus area’s largest private employers — but most are staying silent.

NBC4 reached out to the 25 Columbus-area companies with the most full-time employees per a 2019 list by the region’s economic development arm. Seven companies condemned the bill, two declined to comment, and the rest didn’t respond.

“Any legislation that seeks to shame or penalize groups of Ohioans based on gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity is contrary to our company values of inclusion and diversity and undermines the positive business climate the state has sought to cultivate,” said Honda spokesperson Chris Abbruzzese in a statement.

With a major plant in Marysville being part of its North American headquarters, the Japanese automaker employs more than 11,000 full-time workers in the Columbus region, ranking third.

“We encourage state officials to assure that Ohio remains a welcoming place for all Ohioans and a great place to live, work and do business,” Abbruzzese said.

Honda was one of three companies in the local top five, as well as six in the top 10, to condemn HB 616. Behind Honda at No. 4 on the 2019 list was L Brands, which split last year into Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.

Victoria’s Secret did not comment, but Bath & Body Works said in a statement that “the bill is counter to our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.” The company added its government affairs team is “actively engaged in making our views known to decision makers.”

“Legislation that seeks to limit understanding of race, class, gender, sexuality or any of the layers that define each of us and our shared history, is a step backward,” Cardinal Health said in a statement.

The Dublin-headquartered health services company employs more than 5,000 full-time workers in central Ohio, ranking fifth.

A spokesperson for American Electric Power, ranked No. 8 locally with about 3,600 full-time employees, challenged legislators directly.

“We hope Ohio lawmakers will join us in embracing diversity and inclusion and not diminish the rights of and respect for the LGBTQ+ community or suppress discussions exploring racial inequity and systemic racism,” AEP spokesperson Tammy Ridout wrote.

And Columbus-headquartered Bread Financial, which employed 3,000 local full-time workers in 2019 when it was named Alliance Data, said in a statement, “(W)e oppose legislation that is discriminatory” or conflicts with its “diversity, equity and inclusion” values.

Abercrombie & Fitch did not specifically mention HB 616 in its statement, but the New Albany-headquartered retailer of about 2,600 local workers noted its “unwavering support for our LGBTQ associates, customers and allies.”

Only one employer outside the local top 10 responded to NBC4. Columbus science and technology company Battelle, ranked No. 22 with just over 1,600 full-timers, said it “opposes any legislation that seeks to marginalize any person or groups of people.”

See full statements and the entire list of 25 companies at the bottom of this story.

Bill could be unattractive for businesses

HB 616 would ban “divisive or inherently racist concepts” taught in Ohio schools, including sexual orientation and gender identity for students between kindergarten and third grade.

The bill also bans any student from learning things including critical race theory; The New York Times’ 1619 Project on slavery and Black Americans’ contributions to U.S. history; and diversity, equity and inclusion outcomes.

Proponents say Ohio’s bill gives parents more say in the classroom, but critics deride it as bigoted legislation that will hurt LGBTQ+ students and students of color. They liken it to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, which puts forth similar policies and has been labeled the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill by opponents.

HB 616 also allows the Ohio Department of Education to take away funding depending on a school’s violation.

Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Stivers said in a statement last week that “some of the language in this bill may impede Ohio’s ability” to keep and attract workers who want to put down roots.

Abbruzzese, the Honda spokesperson, said the company came to Ohio in the 1970s “because it was a welcoming place,” and Honda employers “want that to continue to be true for all Honda associates and our families who call the Buckeye State home.”

AEP’s Ridout echoed that thought: “Ohio should be inclusive to all so that our company can continue to recruit and retain talent from all backgrounds and the state can continue to attract economic development opportunities.”

Most employers — plus Intel — don’t comment

JPMorgan Chase, by far central Ohio’s largest employer with more than 20,000 full-time workers, declined to comment. Nationwide Insurance, No. 2 with just under 13,000 employees, did not respond.

Other major companies headquartered locally that did not comment include Huntington Bancshares, Safelite, Abbott Nutrition, and Worthington Industries.

California tech giant Intel will start construction later this year on a $20 billion computer chip factory in Licking County that its CEO said could become the planet’s largest semiconductor facility.

Once operational by 2025, Intel said the campus will employ 3,000 full-time workers, which would tie Bread Financial for ninth locally. Intel also expects another 7,000 jobs for construction.

NBC4 asked Intel for comment, but a company spokesperson declined and did not give a reason why.

Intel is also among nearly 250 companies that have signed a Human Rights Campaign petition opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation pushed by state lawmakers nationwide.

“We are deeply concerned by the bills being introduced in statehouses across the country that single out LGBTQ individuals — many specifically targeting transgender youth — for exclusion or differential treatment,” the petition reads in part.

“These bills would harm our team members and their families, stripping them of opportunities and making them feel unwelcome and at risk in their own communities,” the petition adds. “As such, it can be exceedingly difficult for us to recruit the most qualified candidates for jobs in states that pursue such laws, and these measures can place substantial burdens on the families of our employees who already reside in these states.”

The central Ohio employers NBC4 contacted that also signed that petition were Abercrombie & Fitch, Amazon, Honda, Cardinal Health, Gap, and Victoria’s Secret.

Amazon, Gap, and Victoria’s Secret did not respond to requests for comment.

Full list and statements

Each of these top employers has more than 1,500 full-time employees in central Ohio, according to the 2019 list. The top 25 companies represent more than 110,000 local workers.

Rank	Company	Full-time area employees (2019)	Response?
1.	JPMorgan Chase	20,316	DECLINED
2.	Nationwide (HQ)	12,862	NO
3.	Honda (U.S. HQ)	11,077	YES
4.*	Victoria’s Secret (HQ)	7,662 (among two companies)	NO
	Bath & Body Works (HQ)	7,662 (among two companies)	YES
5.	Cardinal Health (HQ)	5,075	YES
6.	Huntington (HQ)	4,921	NO
7.	Amazon	4,828	NO
8.	AEP (HQ)	3,627	YES
9.	Bread Financial (HQ)	3,000	YES
	Intel (Upcoming)	3,000 by 2025	DECLINED
10.	Abercrombie & Fitch (HQ)	2,598	YES
11.	Safelite (HQ)	2,551	NO
12.	Whirlpool	2,519	NO
13.	Discover	2.283	NO
14.	XPO Logistics	2,246	NO
15.	DHL Supply Chain (U.S. HQ)	2,192	NO
16	Abbott Nutrition (HQ)	2,055	NO
17.	Spectrum	2,000	NO
18.	UnitedHealth	1,900	NO
19.	TS Tech (U.S. HQ)	1,789	NO
20.	Teleperformance	1,730	NO
21.	UPS	1,669	NO
22.	Battelle (HQ)	1,636	YES
23.	Ascena Retail	1,635	NO
24.	Worthington Industries (HQ)	1,625	NO
25.	Gap	1,508	NO

Below are the full seven statements NBC4 received, ordered by local full-time employees:

JPMORGAN CHASE (After story published): “As a company, we oppose all forms of discrimination against anyone based on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as gender, disability, race, or ethnicity.” – JPMorgan Chase

HONDA: “Honda came to Ohio more than four decades ago because it was a welcoming place to begin creating products close to our customers in America. We want that to continue to be true for all Honda associates and our families who call the Buckeye State home. Any legislation that seeks to shame or penalize groups of Ohioans based on gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity is contrary to our company values of inclusion and diversity and undermines the positive business climate the state has sought to cultivate. We encourage state officials to assure that Ohio remains a welcoming place for all Ohioans and a great place to live, work and do business.” – spokesperson Chris Abbruzzese

BATH & BODY WORKS: “We stand against legislation that does not align with our values … to be clear: we believe the bill is counter to our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“At Bath & Body Works, we believe everyone deserves a place where they feel valued for who they are, as they are. We are actively working to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce that not only respects different identities but also removes any barriers to access and opportunity.

“We take the introduction of this bill very seriously. Our government affairs team is actively engaged in making our views known to decision makers.

“Our values are core to who we are. We are proud that as a company we are taking action that aligns with our values.” – B&BW

CARDINAL HEALTH: “At Cardinal Health, we believe deeply in diversity and inclusion, and champion policies that support the human dignity of all people. Legislation that seeks to limit understanding of race, class, gender, sexuality or any of the layers that define each of us and our shared history, is a step backward.” – Cardinal Health

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER: “AEP is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where we welcome and celebrate diversity in all forms. Open, honest conversations are a crucial part of building understanding and combating bigotry and intolerance. We know that each of our 16,700 employees brings experiences and perspectives that make our company and our communities stronger. We remain focused on supporting positive social change both within our workplace and in the dynamic and vibrant communities we serve.

“We hope Ohio lawmakers will join us in embracing diversity and inclusion and not diminish the rights of and respect for the LGBTQ+ community or suppress discussions exploring racial inequity and systemic racism. Ohio should be inclusive to all so that our company can continue to recruit and retain talent from all backgrounds and the state can continue to attract economic development opportunities.” – spokesperson Tammy Ridout

BREAD FINANCIAL (formerly Alliance Data): “Bread Financial supports public policy that protects and advances individual rights, fosters a business environment that creates jobs and economic prosperity, and aligns with our values, including fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a public company employing 6,000+ associates globally, we oppose legislation that is discriminatory or in any way conflicts with those or any other company values.” – Bread Financial

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH: “Now more than ever it’s important to reaffirm our unwavering support for our LGBTQ associates, customers and allies. Everyone deserves to feel safe & accepted, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We stand by our long-term partners – including GLSEN, The Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Stonewall Columbus – as they seek inclusive representation and visibility of LGBTQ communities.

“In line with this commitment, we’re proud to be among more than 230 other businesses who have signed HRC’s Business Statement in support of the LGBTQ community.” – A&F

BATTELLE: “Battelle, along with many large employers in the Ohio business community, opposes any legislation that seeks to marginalize any person or groups of people and that is not aligned with our values related to diversity, equity and inclusion.” – Battelle