Deutsche Bank AG on Tuesday said that
it was freezing employment plans in Cary over passage of a North
Carolina law that targets the LGBT community.
In September, the German bank announced
plans to add 250 new positions to a software-application development
center located in the Raleigh suburb where it already employs about
900 workers.
“We take our commitment to building
inclusive work environments seriously,” Co-Chief Executive John
Cryan said in a statement. “We're proud of our operations and
employees in Cary and regret that as a result of this legislation we
are unwilling to include North Carolina in our U.S. expansion plans
for now.”
Last week, PayPal cited the law in
announcing its decision to withdraw plans to expand in Charlotte.
(Related: PayPal
says decision to cancel Charlotte expansion based on anti-gay law.)
Also on Tuesday, Republican Governor
Pat McCrory signed an executive order which expands discrimination
protections against state employees to include sexual orientation and
gender identity. Critics responded by calling on the governor to
back full repeal of the law.
(Related: LGBT groups criticize North
Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's protection order.)