Harley-Davidson released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying it no longer has supplier diversity spend goals or hiring quotas. The motorcycle maker also reported it has not operated a diversity, equity and inclusion function since April 2024.

“We are saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks, designed to divide the Harley-Davidson community,” the company wrote in its statement. “As a company, we take this issue very seriously, and it is our responsibility to respond with clarity, action and facts. Earlier this year, we initiated an internal stakeholder review to better align company activities to the needs of both our business and community.”

The statement also noted that business employee resource groups will be focused on professional development, networking and mentoring.

CNN reported the move came after a campaign by activist Robby Starbuck. It reported other major firms, such as tractor maker John Deere and Tractor Supply Co., have also backtracked on DE&I policies.

In its statement, Harley-Davidson also said it would not take part in Human Rights Campaign scoring going forward. The HRC operates its Corporate Equality Index. Its employer scoring includes staffing firms.

“Decisions to cut Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives send a clear signal to employees that their employers simply don’t care about equality in the workplace,” the HRC said in a statement. “Putting politics ahead of workers and consumers only hurts the same folks that these businesses rely on.”

Lowe’s Pares Back Inclusion Efforts

Home goods retailer Lowe’s is paring back its efforts to promote LGBTQ inclusion, NBC News reported Aug. 27.

In an internal company memo shared among media organizations, Lowe’s told employees it was ending its participation in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the country’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and would also combine company resource groups designed to support minority employees into one umbrella organization.

Though some media reports suggested Lowe’s was reversing its diversity efforts writ large, the changes appear to specifically target LGBTQ+ representation. 

Separately, research by SIA found that 67% of large staffing buyers have a program for diversity suppliers in place, and 23% planned to have one in the next two years. It ranks as the most popular supplier management strategy.