Indeed, the well-known online job-search company, has recently unveiled an initiative that offers a $10,000 relocation incentive to transgender staff and those with transgender-identified children, should they opt to move.
The policy, which was announced in July, has already taken effect. A 30-year-old employee named Sam Burger has reportedly spent $5,000 on a move from Austin, Texas, to Denver, Colorado. Burger’s relocation is primarily driven by the need to access cross-sex hormones, a crucial aspect of transgender healthcare.
Burger stated, “As soon as I found out that I was getting the money, it was very much like a weight lifted.” Indeed has also pledged to cover any tax liability resulting from the $10,000 payment.
This initiative comes at a time when 22 states across the U.S. have enacted laws restricting transgender treatment for minors. Some of these bans are currently being challenged in court, while other states have criminalized the provision of transgender surgeries or the administration of cross-sex hormones to minors.
Indeed’s progressive stance is not without precedent. Other companies, such as Target and Bud Light, have previously taken public stances supporting transgender rights.
However, these actions have not been free from controversy. Bud Light faced a significant decline in sales following its decision to collaborate with Dylan Mulvaney, a controversial transgender TikTok star. Similarly, Target experienced a $9 billion loss in sales in a single week after unveiling its LGBT-themed clothing line, much of which was targeted towards children.
